In a scathing rebuke, Vice President Kamala Harris criticized former President Donald Trump for his involvement in a recent political controversy at Arlington National Cemetery, stating that the hallowed military burial site should remain free from political exploits. Harris launched her criticism on Saturday through a post on social media, accusing Trump of disrespecting sacred ground and using it as a mere "political stunt."

The incident unfolded on Monday when Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery to honor 13 U.S. military service members who lost their lives during the country's withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago. According to the U.S. Army, a Trump campaign staffer allegedly disregarded cemetery rules by rudely pushing aside a cemetery employee who was attempting to inform the team about the prohibition on filming.

The Trump campaign has challenged the cemetery's account, asserting that they had obtained permission from the families of the fallen soldiers to film. Trump himself addressed the situation during a campaign rally in Michigan, claiming that he was asked by the soldiers' family members to pose for a photo and denying any intention of political campaigning.

This marked the first time that Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, openly expressed her views on the controversy. Harris made it clear that she has visited Arlington National Cemetery numerous times during her tenure as vice president and that she would never exploit such a sacred site for political gain.

Highlighting the importance of honoring veterans, military families, and service members, Harris stated, "If there is one thing on which we as Americans can all agree, it is that our veterans… should be honored, never disparaged, and treated with nothing less than our highest respect and gratitude." She further emphasized that anyone incapable of fulfilling this "simple, sacred duty" should not hold the office of U.S. President.

As the debate intensifies, Trump's running mate JD Vance took a sharp swipe at the Biden administration over its handling of the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, dismissively telling Kamala Harris to "go to hell." While the Trump campaign denied any physical altercation at the cemetery, they expressed their willingness to release footage to counter the "defamatory claims."

In response to the controversy, House Democrats have called on the U.S. Army to provide a detailed report of the incident, seeking a comprehensive account of what transpired at Arlington National Cemetery. Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command continues its efforts to disrupt and degrade the plans of the Islamic State (IS) leadership.

The Trump campaign's actions at Arlington National Cemetery have sparked a heated political debate, intensifying scrutiny over the appropriate use of such sacred grounds. It remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the remaining days of the election campaign.