Ladies and gentlemen, in a poignant and somewhat controversial development, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson found himself in the middle of a heated situation involving former President Donald Trump and Gold Star families.
The issue at hand? Ensuring Trump could attend a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to honor the third anniversary of the tragic Afghanistan withdrawal that claimed the lives of 13 brave U.S. servicemembers.
The Gold Star families, who lost their loved ones during the Biden administration’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, personally invited Trump to the ceremony. The event was meant to be a solemn occasion, with Trump laying a wreath in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice at Abbey Gate. However, things didn’t go as smoothly as one might expect.
According to a family member who spoke with the Daily Caller, Arlington National Cemetery made it difficult for the former President to participate in the ceremony. The families were told they could only visit at a specific time, which didn’t work for everyone involved. More troubling, the cemetery reportedly informed the families that Trump could not accompany them to their children’s gravesites—a request made by the families themselves.
This is where Speaker Johnson stepped in. After being contacted by Rep. Michael McCaul, who was reached out to by Gold Star parents Darin Hoover and Kelly Barnett, Johnson took swift action. McCaul, expressing his outrage, reached out to Johnson to see what could be done to honor the families’ request. And thanks to Johnson’s intervention, the situation was resolved, allowing Trump to join the families at Arlington.
The Biden-Harris regime tried to stop @realDonaldTrump from attending the 3rd Anniversary of the Afghanistan withdraw at Arlington National Cemetery.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had to intervene to ensure that former President Donald Trump could attend a ceremony at Arlington… pic.twitter.com/8H3dREqby6
— @amuse (@amuse) August 29, 2024
It’s worth noting that the situation garnered significant attention. Rep. Darrell Issa of California has repeatedly called on President Biden to meet with these Gold Star families, highlighting the stark contrast in responses between the former and current administrations. Issa, who was present at the ceremonies, accused the Biden administration of interfering with the tributes, alleging that their “war on Trump” had made the Gold Star families collateral damage.
The whole scenario sheds light on the deep frustrations these families feel. Hoover, speaking emotionally to the Daily Caller, emphasized that it was the families who invited Trump, not the other way around. He praised Trump for his compassion and criticized the Biden administration for its lack of communication over the past three years.
This incident reinforces the ongoing tension between these grieving families and the current administration, and it raises questions about how we honor those who have sacrificed everything. Thanks to the efforts of Speaker Johnson and others, the ceremony took place as the families had hoped. But the path to get there was anything but smooth, leaving a lingering sense of unease about the treatment of those who have already suffered so much.
