Kelly Barnett, whose son died in the Afghanistan withdrawal, asserts that Trump provided support while Biden and Harris failed to honor fallen soldiers with their presence.
Kelly Barnett, a Gold Star mother whose son, Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, was killed during the ISIS-K assault in 2021, has strongly defended former President Donald Trump's visit to Arlington Cemetery to honor service members who died in the Afghanistan withdrawal. Barnett vehemently condemned President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their absence at the ceremony.
In an interview on "America's Newsroom," Barnett stated that both Biden and Harris were invited but failed to attend the event. She revealed that Utah Governor Spencer Cox had personally invited Biden, informing him of the ceremony's significance. Arlington Cemetery also notified the White House about the event, but neither Biden nor Harris responded.
Gold Star Mom Defends Trump's Arlington Visit, Condemns Biden and Harris' Absence
Barnett emphasized that the Gold Star families felt compelled to invite Trump due to his unwavering support throughout their grieving process. They also permitted a Trump campaign photographer to document the event.
Following the ceremony, several media outlets reported that the photographer had recorded footage in a restricted area, which is prohibited by Army regulations. The U.S. Army claimed that a cemetery staffer was "abruptly pushed aside" during the event.
Gold Star Mom Defends Trump's Arlington Visit, Condemns Biden and Harris' Absence
However, Barnett vehemently denied any such altercation and described the day as "quiet" and "peaceful." She stated that she had witnessed no unusual activity and was unaware of any incident reported by the Army.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung dismissed the allegations against the campaign photographer, claiming that he had been granted approval to be present. He asserted that the individual who reportedly obstructed the photographer may have been experiencing a "mental health episode."
Gold Star Mom Defends Trump's Arlington Visit, Condemns Biden and Harris' Absence
In a scathing attack, Vice President Harris accused Trump of "politicizing" the fallen service members. She condemned his visit as disrespectful and claimed that his team had engaged in an altercation with cemetery staff.
In response, the families of the 13 fallen service members released an ad criticizing the Biden-Harris administration for their handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. They lamented the absence of phone calls or expressions of sympathy from the president and vice president.
Gold Star Mom Defends Trump's Arlington Visit, Condemns Biden and Harris' Absence
Barnett expressed her frustration over the perceived disrespect shown by Biden and Harris. She stated that the families had endured countless setbacks and disappointments over the past three years, including a lack of accountability for the tragic events in Afghanistan.
Barnett asserted that Trump's presence provided solace and support to the families. She declared that he had been a constant source of comfort and understanding during their darkest moments.
"We've been disrespected so much in the last three years. It's been three years. No response from them," Barnett said. "No, 'I'm sorry.' No..., 'We stand with you. We know it was a mistake. We know it went down wrong.' Because we know mistakes happen in war. This wasn't supposed to be war, but it turned out to be, and it was just important that… we let Donald Trump know because he's been there for us. He's been our rock, and he's been there for us to give us a little bit of peace and carry that grief with us for a little while."
Barnett concluded by condemning the Biden-Harris administration's actions and expressing her disappointment at their failure to honor the fallen service members with their presence. She reiterated her support for Trump and thanked him for his unwavering support during their time of need.
