In a latest twist to the ongoing dispute between the Donald Trump campaign and officials at Arlington National Cemetery, a prominent campaign adviser has ignited controversy by referring to the US Army as "hacks". The Republican nominee and his campaign have faced scrutiny over filming Trump's visit to the military cemetery without permission, which led to an alleged physical altercation. In an attempt to further exacerbate the situation, Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita took to social media, sharing a video from the cemetery and tagging Army Secretary Christine E Wormuth, while calling the Army "hacks".

The disagreement between the Trump campaign and Arlington National Cemetery officials originated on Monday when a cemetery official warned Trump and his team that they risked violating federal laws by taking photos and videos for political purposes at the site. According to an Army spokesperson, following the warning, the cemetery worker was "abruptly pushed aside" by Trump aides. On Tuesday, LaCivita and Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung defended the campaign by criticizing the cemetery official. Cheung also alleged that the official was experiencing a mental health episode.

The controversy deepened as LaCivita continued his attacks, labeling the Arlington National Cemetery worker as a "despicable individual." Ohio Senator JD Vance, who is running as Trump's vice president, defended the campaign on Wednesday, stating that there was verifiable evidence supporting their presence and that families of fallen veterans had wanted Trump there. However, Khizr Khan, father of fallen Army Captain Humayun Khan, raised questions about Trump's motives behind the visit, alluding to past remarks in which Trump allegedly referred to veterans as "suckers and losers."

In an effort to deflect attention from the cemetery visit scandal, Trump targeted his Democratic rival Kamala Harris during a campaign event in Michigan on Thursday. He accused the Biden-Harris administration of being responsible for the deaths of children in Afghanistan due to "incompetence." Democrats are now urging the cemetery to release a log report detailing the incident.

While Democrats push for further investigation, the Army has expressed its desire to move on from the matter. The unnamed cemetery official declined to press charges against the Trump campaign, prompting the Army spokesperson to state that the matter is considered closed. Emphasizing the sanctity of Arlington National Cemetery as a national shrine, the spokesperson affirmed that the dedicated staff would continue to uphold the dignity and respect deserving of the nation's fallen.

When contacted for comment, an Army spokesperson redirected inquiries to previous statements, indicating a reluctance to engage in any further discussions surrounding the incident.

In this ongoing clash between the Trump campaign and Arlington National Cemetery, the controversy shows no signs of abating as both sides stand firm in their positions. Ultimately, the focus remains on the preservation of dignity and respect for the fallen servicemen and women who rest in Arlington National Cemetery.