NPR and other news reports said Trump’s staff reportedly got into a shouting match with an Arlington National Cemetery official over photographs or video recordings in “sensitive” areas related to recent American casualties. 

The incident is rumored to have taken place at an event observing the third anniversary of a bombing that killed 13 American service members in Kabul as part of last year’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. 

In a post on Truth Social, Trump spoke about the incident and blamed it on how Biden’s admin conducted the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“There was no conflict or ‘fighting’ at Arlington National Cemetery last week. It was a made up story by Comrade Kamala and her misinformation squad. She made it all up to make up for the fact that she and Sleepy Joe have BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS for the INCOMPETENT AFGHANISTAN Withdrawal – THE MOST EMBARRASSING DAY IN U.S. HISTORY!!! They should have been at Arlington, not on a beach or studying for a Debate,” Trump said, also referring to President Joe Biden.

A spokesperson for the Army said a female official at Arlington National Cemetery, located in Virginia near Washington, D.C., was “abruptly pushed aside” during the altercation but decided not to press charges. NPR noted that Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung “strongly rejected the notion of a physical altercation” and said his team was prepared to release footage to fight defamatory claims.

The disagreement prompted congressional Democrats to demand a formal incident report while Vice President Kamala Harris accused Trump of orchestrating “a political stunt.” 

A number of Gold Star families were seen in footage posted to social media by Trump voicing their support for him, citing that they had invited the president to be present and record the event while casting shade at Harris over her remarks.

Trump also recognized the support of Gold Star families in his comments on True Social saying, “Thank you to my friends, the GREAT GOLD STAR FAMILIES, for revealing the TRUTH OF A BEAUTIFUL DAY OF HONOR. Could not have been a nicer moment-And there were no fights or problems, only in the heads of those that are destroying our Country! MAGA2024.”