On the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan, former President Donald Trump attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to honor the 13 US service members who died. Among the attendees were members of the Gold Star families, who later joined a call with GOP Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance, Trump’s campaign, and reporters.
During the call, some family members criticized President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for not reaching out to them following the tragedy, according to Fox News.
Mark Schmitz, the father of US Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, who was killed in the bombing, expressed disappointment with the Biden administration's response to the Afghanistan withdrawal. Schmitz said he wasn't surprised that neither Biden nor Harris attended the event, calling their absence "another spit in the face to the 13 families."
He contrasted this with Trump's participation, noting that Trump's presence felt "genuine" and not politically motivated. Schmitz emphasized that Trump has consistently supported the families since the beginning, as per the report by Fox News.
Cheryl Juels, the aunt of Marine Corps. Nicole Ghee, also attended the ceremony and shared her views. She stated that Biden and Harris have never reached out to any of the families affected by the bombing, describing their actions as insincere. Juels praised Trump for his consistent outreach and support for the families, saying he has honored the fallen service members and their families with respect and dignity.
Juels emphasized the need for Trump to return to office, asserting that he is the only president who has ensured the safety of the military. She pledged her family's full support for Trump, expressing their commitment to doing whatever they can to see him back in office to protect US service members.