Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) did not hold back when responding to Vice President Kamala Harris after she criticized former President Donald Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
Vance, visibly frustrated, told Harris she “can go to hell” if she wanted to use the incident as a political attack against Trump. This fiery remark came after reports surfaced that Trump’s campaign staff allegedly got into an altercation with a cemetery official at Arlington National Cemetery.
The official reportedly tried to stop them from filming and photographing in Section 60, a solemn area reserved for military personnel who lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq. Harris’s spokesperson, Michael Tyler, described the situation as “pretty sad” and unsurprising, which set off Vance’s pointed response.
No violation of any law. Arlington Cemetery granted written permission for President Trump’s photographer to be there.
Oops, no story! Well that fact check didn’t take long. You Trump haters are hilarious! Keep ‘em coming! 🍿 pic.twitter.com/GunjQkJWTN
— Carmen BR (@CarmenBR924) August 28, 2024
Speaking at a campaign event in Erie, Pennsylvania, Vance not only lashed out at Harris but also criticized her for not holding anyone accountable for the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal that led to the deaths of 13 American servicemembers. “Kamala Harris is disgraceful,” Vance said, accusing her of being “asleep at the wheel” and refusing to investigate the tragedy. He emphasized that the real issue at hand was Harris’s failure to act, rather than Trump’s presence at the cemetery.
JUST IN: JD Vance tells Kamala to “go to hell” after her campaign criticized Trump for going to Arlington National Cemetery to honor the 13 service members who died in Afghanistan.
“To have those 13 Americans lose their lives and not fire a single person is disgraceful. Kamala… pic.twitter.com/kyjOWYUEdR
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 28, 2024
Audience member: “Where’s your teleprompter?”
Senator @JDVance: “Ma’am, I don’t need a teleprompter. I’ve actually got thoughts in my head, unlike Kamala Harris.” pic.twitter.com/4khTHd4NSy
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 28, 2024
Vance also downplayed the so-called altercation, suggesting the media exaggerated the incident to create a sensational story. He pointed out that the Gold Star families had invited Trump, contradicting the narrative that his presence was somehow inappropriate or disrespectful. Darin Hoover, the father of Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, backed Vance’s account, stating that the cemetery staff was lying about what happened and affirming that Trump’s visit was both invited and appreciated.
Vance on reported altercation at Arlington Nat’l Cemetery:
“There’s verifiable evidence that the campaign was allowed to have a photographer there … that’s not an insult to the memories of their loved ones. They wanted Donald Trump there.” pic.twitter.com/piV9NHcNqh
— Kit Maher (@KitMaherCNN) August 28, 2024
Vance’s military background as a Marine veteran seemed to resonate with the crowd in Erie, with attendees like Gene Seip and Chris Knight expressing their support for his no-nonsense approach and connection to military issues. Vance’s sharp rebuke of Harris and defense of Trump has further solidified his appeal among voters who value strong leadership and accountability, particularly within the military community.
