Families Respond To Social Media Post
Hello everyone, let’s dive into a story that has sparked outrage and intense backlash, not just within political circles but, more importantly, among the families who have lost loved ones in service to our country. It all started when Vice President Kamala Harris decided to release a statement criticizing former President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
What should have been a moment of solemn remembrance has now turned into a political firestorm, and the response from multiple Gold Star families has been nothing short of devastating.
Here’s the background: Trump was invited by the families of 13 American service members who were killed during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan to attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington. During the visit, Trump posed for pictures with some of the family members—a moment that should have been about honoring the fallen.
But instead, it was weaponized by some in the media and political opponents. The New York Times, for example, went so far as to chastise not just Trump but also the Gold Star families who appeared in those photos. Reporter Maggie Haberman even called up a grieving mother to extract a quote critical of Trump, crossing a line that many found grotesque.
As Vice President, I have had the privilege of visiting Arlington National Cemetery several times. It is a solemn place; a place where we come together to honor American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of this nation.
It is not a place for politics.
And…
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 31, 2024
Then, Vice President Harris jumped into the fray with a statement that left many people shocked. She accused Trump of turning the cemetery into a stage for a political stunt, reminding everyone of past allegations that Trump had disrespected fallen service members. Harris claimed that Arlington is "not a place for politics," while ironically using her statement to do exactly that—politicize the deaths of American soldiers.
The vice president’s remarks didn’t just spark outrage from Trump supporters; they provoked an immediate and powerful response from the families of the fallen. As of now, eight different Gold Star families have released video statements condemning Harris for her words and her actions—or rather, her lack of them.
These families are not just upset with her for politicizing their loved ones' sacrifice; they’re also angry that she’s never bothered to reach out to them personally, even though they’re mourning the loss of those who served under her administration’s command.
1. Gold Star Families of botched Afghanistan withdrawal slam VP Kamala Harris.
"Why won't you return a call and explain to us how you call my daughter-in-law's death a success?" — Christy Shamblin, mother-in-law of Sgt. Nicole Agee. pic.twitter.com/nr1hod7ixO
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) August 31, 2024
One of the most poignant responses came from the mother-in-law of Nicole Gee, one of the fallen service members. She pointed out the bitter irony that Harris can make bold statements on social media for political gain, but she can’t find the time or the decency to return a call from any of the Gold Star families. This, she said, speaks volumes about Harris’s priorities and her lack of genuine care.
Whoever advised Harris to make this statement clearly didn’t anticipate the backlash it would provoke. Instead of scoring political points, she’s found herself in the middle of a disaster, with the very families she sought to invoke in her statement turning against her. It’s a reminder that there are some lines you just don’t cross, and politicizing the grief of families who have lost everything is one of them.