Staff Reports
Army 1st Lt. Jimmy McCain, son of the late Senator John McCain, took to his soapbox to express faux indignation over former President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery. The younger McCain found himself on CNN, gripping his pearls while chastising Trump for honoring the 13 brave U.S. service members who tragically lost their lives in the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing during the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. Apparently, paying respect to the fallen is now a controversial act.
According to McCain, Trump’s visit was nothing short of a “violation,” as Arlington National Cemetery is a hallowed ground where the departed “don’t have an opinion.” His assertion that the cemetery serves as a non-political space where respect must reign sounds almost noble. However, the sudden sensitivity displayed by McCain raises eyebrows, especially considering his father had no qualms about using footage from that very hallowed ground in a campaign ad back in 1999. One wonders if the younger McCain’s moral high ground is constructed from a shaky foundation.
We were granted access to have a photographer there. https://t.co/s2E9lNdksK pic.twitter.com/dXbZ03hwzB
— Steven Cheung (@TheStevenCheung) August 27, 2024
In an eyebrow-raising twist, McCain felt it necessary to remind the public that multiple generations of his family lie at rest in Arlington. This apparently granted him a free pass to scold Trump for making the visit political. His remarks about the “sanctified nature” of the cemetery are rich coming from someone whose family history clearly intertwines with the political machine. One can’t help but wonder why his own father’s political stunts at Arlington don’t warrant the same level of scrutiny or outrage.
When prompted about his father’s use of Arlington footage, McCain was quick to disclose that his dad made the ethical choice to pull the ad, thus showing his understanding of the cemetery’s solemnity. Ironically, if Trump were to retract his actions and apologize, one presumes this would restore the proper order according to McCain. Trying to take the moral high ground while standing on the shoulders of a more controversial legacy is a bold strategy, but will it pay off?
Shortly after Trump’s visit, reports surfaced alleging a verbal tussle between Trump’s campaign officials and cemetery authorities. Accusations and counter-accusations flew as Trump’s team claimed they had permission for a private photographer, while Vice President Kamala Harris interjected, branding Trump’s actions as a “political stunt.” One could argue that Harris’s comments were a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black, considering her marshaling political capital from tragedies is an age-old playbook move. In the world of politics, doing what’s right often appears to be contingent on who’s in power and what footage can be leveraged next.
