In the aftermath of former President Trump's recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery, Republican allies are working to shift the narrative, focusing on President Biden and Vice President Harris's absence from a separate event.
According to Axios, the fallout from Trump's August 26 visit continued on Sunday, September 1, as lawmakers took to the airwaves to discuss the controversy.
Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" to defend Trump's actions at Arlington National Cemetery. Instead of addressing the allegations surrounding Trump's campaign staff, Cotton redirected attention to the absence of Biden and Harris at a separate event honoring Gold Star families who lost loved ones in the 2021 Kabul bombing.
Cotton disputed claims that the Arlington photos and footage were intended for Trump's campaign, asserting that the families had invited Trump, Biden, and Harris, intending for the day to be bipartisan. He then criticized the current administration's absence from the event. Cotton stated:
Joe Biden was sitting on a beach. Kamala Harris was sitting in her mansion in D.C.. She was four miles away. Ten minutes. She could have gone to the cemetery and honored the sacrifice of those young men and women.
The senator further attributed the deaths of the 13 service members to "Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' incompetence."
Representative Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), a Navy veteran, echoed similar sentiments on "Face the Nation," expressing his wish that both Trump and Biden had visited with the families. He emphasized the need to prioritize veterans, families, and the American people above political considerations.
The ongoing hostage situation in Gaza has prompted renewed calls for a ceasefire and hostage deal. Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of Sagui Dekel-Chen, who is currently held hostage by Hamas, voiced his concerns on "Face the Nation."
Dekel-Chen criticized the Israeli government's approach to negotiations, stating, "Israelis at large, and myself included, have been extremely critical of the Israeli government for not negotiating in good faith now for many, many months."
He further expressed his belief that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pursuit of "total victory" over Hamas is unrealistic and has been prioritized over the well-being of the hostages.
International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Shawn O'Brien appeared on "Face the Nation" to discuss the union's potential endorsement in the upcoming presidential election. As one of the ten largest labor unions in the United States, the Teamsters' endorsement carries significant weight.
O'Brien explained that the union's endorsement process typically occurs after both parties have held their national conventions. However, he acknowledged that the current political climate might necessitate a different approach.
Regarding the possibility of meeting with Vice President Harris, O'Brien stated:
I said to someone the other day, you don't hire someone unless you give them an interview. This is our opportunity to ask her about teamster-specific issues and also labor issues. So until we have that meeting, we will wait to make that determination.
The Sunday political discussions covered a range of topics, from the controversy surrounding Trump's Arlington visit to the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza and labor union endorsements. Republicans sought to redirect attention from Trump's actions to criticize the current administration's absence at a Gold Star family event. The hostage situation in Gaza drew criticism of the Israeli government's negotiation strategy, while the Teamsters Union continues to deliberate on its presidential endorsement process.
