Congressional Democrats and liberal-leaning veterans groups are seizing on Donald Trump's recent clash with staff at Arlington National Cemetery to highlight his alleged disrespect towards military veterans. The incident occurred during a wreath-laying ceremony at the grave of a soldier killed in Afghanistan during the chaotic US withdrawal in 2021. Trump's campaign was rebuked by the US army after members of his entourage were accused of pushing aside a cemetery staff member who was trying to enforce the ban on photography in the burial area for personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This clash has become an opportunity for Democrats to counter Republican efforts to undermine the military record of Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee. Walz has faced criticism for allegedly misleading statements about his 24 years of military service in the national guard.

Pictures later emerged of Trump posing with the soldier's family, smiling and giving a thumbs-up sign, which some criticized as inappropriate and crass. Furthermore, Trump's campaign posted a TikTok video where he falsely claimed that no lives were lost in Afghanistan during his last 18 months in office. In reality, 11 US soldiers were killed during that time.

Democrats are accusing Trump of exploiting a sacred site for political gain and violating the cemetery's regulations. They argue that Arlington National Cemetery should not be used as a backdrop for campaign photo-ops. Mikie Sherrill, a Democratic House member and former navy helicopter pilot, called Trump's actions an "absolute disgrace" and demanded respect for military veterans. Congressman Gerry Connolly from Virginia demanded the release of footage and paperwork from the incident, describing Trump's actions as desecration of hallowed ground.

Even though surveys show that a majority of retired service members voted for Trump in the 2020 presidential election, several left-leaning veterans groups are joining in the criticism. Jon Stoltz, a former army veteran and co-founder of VoteVets, a veterans group supporting Kamala Harris's campaign, believes that Trump's use of the cemetery for a political ceremony could turn previously sympathetic ex-servicemen against him.

The condemnation has extended beyond political parties, with Allison Jaslow, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, stating that Arlington is not an appropriate venue for politics. The cemetery's rules expressly state that partisan activities are inappropriate due to its role as a shrine for all honored dead of the US Armed Forces.

This clash at Arlington National Cemetery is not the first instance where Trump's attitude towards military service has raised eyebrows. His track record includes disparaging statements about recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, his refusal to visit a first world war cemetery in France, and mocking the late Republican senator John McCain for being a prisoner of war.

As the election season heats up, Democrats are capitalizing on Trump's clash at Arlington National Cemetery to underscore what they perceive as a consistent pattern of disrespect towards military veterans. Whether this incident will have an impact on voter sentiment remains to be seen, but it adds to the ongoing debate about the role of the military and the treatment of veterans in American politics.