JD Vance Tells Kamala Harris to “Go to Hell” Over Trump Criticism at Arlington Cemetery Event

Republican vice presidential nominee Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) directed harsh words at Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, telling her to “go to hell” if she intended to criticise former President Donald Trump for attending a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

The ceremony was held to honour the 13 U.S. servicemembers who lost their lives during the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021.

Vance’s strong remarks followed reports of an altercation involving Trump’s campaign staff and a cemetery official at Arlington.

The official reportedly tried to prevent Trump’s team from filming and taking photographs in Section 60, the area designated for those killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In response to the incident, Michael Tyler, a spokesperson for Harris, called the situation “pretty sad” and “not surprising” during an interview with CNN.

Vance, visibly frustrated when asked about the incident at a campaign event in Erie, Pennsylvania, criticised Harris for failing to hold anyone accountable for the Afghanistan withdrawal.

He claimed that 13 American servicemembers died because Harris “refused to do her job” and emphasised that there has been no investigation or accountability for those losses.

Vance then lashed out, saying that Harris “can go to hell” if her team intended to use the Arlington event as an opportunity to criticise Trump.

Vance further insisted that the incident at Arlington was blown out of proportion by the media, downplaying the altercation as a minor disagreement between a cemetery staff member and Trump’s team. He argued that the Gold Star families present at the ceremony had invited Trump and that his presence was not an “insult” to the memory of the fallen soldiers.

The Trump campaign has defended its actions, with communications director Steven Cheung stating that the individual who confronted the campaign was experiencing a “mental health episode” and that there was no physical altercation as described.

A spokesperson for Arlington National Cemetery confirmed that an incident occurred and that a report had been filed, noting that federal law prohibits political campaign activities within the cemetery grounds.

One Gold Star family member, Darin Hoover, whose son Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover was buried in Section 60, supported Trump’s presence at the ceremony. He disputed the cemetery staff’s account, asserting that there was no physical altercation and accusing the staff of lying.

At the campaign event in Erie, Vance’s military background was highlighted by attendees as a significant asset for the Republican ticket. Supporters noted his experience as a Marine veteran and expressed appreciation for his strong stance on military issues, viewing it as a positive factor in the upcoming election.