A federal judge recently waved his gavel and threw a transparency wrench into matters concerning former President Donald Trump’s August excursion to Arlington National Cemetery. Judge Paul Friedman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia demanded that the Army cough up its “responsive, non-exempt” documents related to the event by week’s end. Apparently, the people have the right to know how the government handles incidents involving someone they’ve painted as a major political figure, especially with an election just around the corner.
On August 26, Mr. Trump honored the memory of 13 American service members killed in a terrorist attack during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. It was an act intended to show respect and solemnity, quite a deviation from the circus of politics typically seen today. However, not everyone saw it that way. Critics quickly pounced, branding the visit a politically motivated stunt and purportedly accusing Trump of violating Department of Defense regulations. The irony? It almost seems like these detractors would prefer a former president remain silent at a national cemetery than risk creating a photo-op that might boost his campaign.
Judge orders Army to release records on Trump Arlington National Cemetery visit by end of weekhttps://t.co/i1KK7NFiVs pic.twitter.com/0pLPJBD85y
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 23, 2024
Adding to the “controversy,” the Army claimed a Trump campaign aide disrupted the filming of the event, pushing aside a cemetery employee attempting to enforce the rules. In a surprising twist, that employee opted not to press charges. Perhaps they realized they were standing in front of a man who was there to honor fallen heroes while critics were trying to concoct yet another scandal out of thin air. It seems absurdities abound, especially when Democrats in Congress are now clamoring for the Army to toss out their records, as if any dirt could actually bring down the Trump train.
In the meantime, the upcoming election raises high stakes for this release. The organization American Oversight thinks it’s paramount for voters to learn how the government responds to incidents involving candidates who so nobly claim to champion the military. Their executive director stressed the public’s “clear and compelling interest,” likely confused as to why a president honoring service members would be perceived as politically divisive.
Yet Mr. Trump hasn’t shied away from defending his visit. He even released letters from family members praising his respect and demeanor at the event. In stark contrast, the Democrats continue to push the narrative that the visit was tainted by political motives. With every major media outlet covering this story, one wonders whether they’ll ever realize that honoring heroes should transcend politics altogether. The decision for voters now lies in whether they want the truth about this event or merely the usual Washington theatrics to keep them entertained.