During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard criticized Kamala Harris for not attending the anniversary ceremony that commemorated the 13 service members who died during the troubled withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Gabbard’s comments come amidst controversy surrounding former President Donald Trump’s visit to Arlington Cemetery, where he and his team honored the 13 Gold Star families.
Gabbard defended Trump’s decision to bring a camera to the ceremony, stating that it was approved by Arlington officials to document the day. “I checked with the campaign on this question and they have exchanges with the officials at Arlington Cemetery. They were approved to bring a camera there to document this historic and momentous day that should not be forgotten by any American,” Gabbard explained on the show.
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The former congresswoman highlighted that some family members specifically invited Trump to the ceremony, contrasting this with the absence of Kamala Harris, who Gabbard accused of failing to console the families. “I know President Trump wanted to share that with others, especially given the fact that President Biden [and] Harris, I heard, were invited by some of these family members. They not only didn’t come, they didn’t even respond to that invitation,” she said.
Gabbard expressed disappointment in Harris’s public statements of support for the military and veterans, given her lack of direct outreach to the families affected by the Afghanistan withdrawal. “Now to have Kamala Harris put this statement out yesterday saying that she stands with these families, she stands with the military and with veterans — you only have to look at the response that came from the Gold-Star families of these 13 service members of how offended they were by that statement,” Gabbard remarked. “Given she has not made any effort — not on that third anniversary or any other time — to call them directly to offer her condolences and even apologies for their decisions that led to the loss of their loved ones.”
I bet @KamalaHarris wishes she never tried to politicize Trump’s visit to Arlington with the Gold Star families of troops killed in the Afghanistan withdrawal. Now the families are calling Kamala out… and their message is powerful! pic.twitter.com/kYm9HFKiGH
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) September 2, 2024
While CNN host Dana Bash raised concerns that Trump’s campaign might have violated the cemetery’s rules regarding memorial service coverage, Gabbard shifted focus to the broader issue of media coverage of the anniversary. “What is more outrageous to me is that there wasn’t universal coverage of the momentous day of the third anniversary of the loss of these 13 gold star families,” she said. “And the outrage that they feel that their loved ones are not getting the kind of coverage and memory that their great sacrifice deserves. That is what everyone should be outraged about.”
Controversy also arose from allegations reported by NPR that Trump’s staff were stopped from filming at the cemetery, with claims of a physical altercation involving a Trump staffer and an official.
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Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, denied these allegations, stating, “The fact is that a private photographer was permitted on the premises, and for whatever reason an unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump’s team during a very solemn ceremony.”
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In another portion of the interview, Tulsi Gabbard criticized Kamala Harris for her hypocrisy, citing her inconsistency between her words and actions, particularly in prosecution and free speech.
Gabbard highlighted Harris’s aggressive prosecution stance contrasted with her actions, such as laughing about prosecuting marijuana users.
Gabbard also accused the Harris-Biden administration of adding her to a secret domestic terror watchlist as political retaliation after she warned about a Harris presidency, underscoring what she sees as a dangerous abuse of power.
WATCH:
Tulsi Gabbard side blinds Dana Bash on CNN’s State of The Union with the fact that the Biden-Harris administration has placed her on a TSA terrorist watchlist.
No one in the MSM has covered this story outside of Fox News.
CNN did not see that coming! pic.twitter.com/c7Pt4eAIap— Ashley Nicole (@antiwarmisfit) September 1, 2024
Dan Bash claims she’s not familiar with the secret terror watchlist and says, ‘We’re definitely going to follow up on that.’ Breanna Morello shows the receipts. Watch:
If you want to see Tulsi’s receipts, I put them here: https://t.co/nlQCYd5zLk
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) September 2, 2024
Morello also reached out to Bash’s executive producer…
I have emailed & texted @DanaBashCNN‘s executive producer @bgeldon.
I have sent him the documents that back @TulsiGabbard‘s claims.
I have also sent them @LaboscoSonya‘s phone number so they can vet my claims.
I’ve also offered to come on @CNN to breakdown all my reporting. https://t.co/hkXlytftU1 pic.twitter.com/DKweeZS7to
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) September 2, 2024
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