Editor’s note: Today we are featuring two editorials from members of The Wild Hunt editorial team about the sacred nature of cemeteries in response to the recent controversies over a visit by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to Arlington National Cemetery, where Mr. Trump broke the rules of the cemetery (and federal law) by photographing graves for use in his political campaign. As a companion to this piece, we encourage you to read “Honoring the Dead” by our technical director, Stacy Psaros. Now, here’s Manny Moreno.
Last month, former President Donald Trump made headlines with his controversial visit to Arlington Cemetery, sparking intense debate on social media.
Here’s a brief recap: on August 26, Trump visited Arlington Cemetery at the invitation of several Gold Star families who lost loved ones during the U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan – specifically when, three years ago, a bomb detonated by an Islamic State fighter killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 170 Afghan civilians while evacuating Afghan allies at Abbey Gate of Kabul International Airport.
The Trump campaign subsequently used footage from the Arlington visit in a campaign video for TikTok.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier [Arlington National Cemetery via Facebook]
Following the visit, the Army issued a statement accusing Trump campaign officials of violating cemetery regulations and federal law by taking photos and videos in Section 60, where those who died in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are buried.
“Participants in the August 26th ceremony and the subsequent Section 60 visit were made aware of federal laws, Army regulations, and DoD policies, which clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds,” the statement read. “An ANC employee who attempted to enforce these rules was abruptly pushed aside. Consistent with the decorum expected at ANC, this employee acted with professionalism and avoided further disruption.”
In response, the Trump campaign claimed that the cemetery staffer was “clearly suffering from a mental health episode.”
Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump campaign adviser, harshly criticized the cemetery employee, stating, “It is disgraceful for such a despicable individual to physically prevent President Trump’s team from attending this solemn event. This person does not deserve to represent the hollowed (sic) grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.”
“Whoever this individual is, spreading these lies dishonors the men and women of our armed forces,” he added.
This incident is not the first time Trump has been accused of politicizing the military for personal gain. He has previously been reported to have referred to fallen soldiers as “suckers” and “losers,” criticized the late Sen. John McCain for being a prisoner of war, and recently stirred controversy by claiming that civilian recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom are superior to those awarded the Medal of Honor — the nation’s highest military honor, often given posthumously.
Regarding the visit, Trump’s supporters argue that he was invited, while critics view the event as a desecration of sacred ground. Both sides acknowledge that political campaigning is prohibited at Arlington National Cemetery, but they differ on how to interpret and apply this rule, despite the clear signage at Section 60, where the incident occurred.
It seems we’re struggling to accurately describe this situation. This was clearly a political stunt, known in political slang as “ratfucking,” a term popularized by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in their book All the President’s Men (1974), which details the Watergate scandal.
Despite the Trump team’s explanations, they had full control over their actions—deciding to bring cameras, release videos on TikTok, and publish the now-infamous thumbs-up photo at a grave. The Gold Star families say they invited Trump, exercising their own agency in the matter, despite the objections of Arlington National Cemetery’s caretakers, who were upholding federal law.
In all the photos I’ve seen, there is one group that had no say: the dead. They were ignored. This isn’t a conservative issue or a liberal issue; it’s a human issue.
What surprises me most about this incident is the silence from religious and spiritual communities. While many individuals have voiced their opinions on social media — some with more nuance, others with a creative mix of four-letter words — there has been little to no response from religious organizations. No condemnations have been issued by any religious group, be they Catholic, Muslim, Mormon, or otherwise, despite the sacredness of cemeteries – due, they all note, to the presence of human remains.
This avoidance is particularly surprising for our community. One of the common threads across many Pagan paths is the reverence for ancestors, especially during Samhain or its equivalent. One could argue that ancestor veneration is as integral to Pagan spirituality as a reverence for nature or the Wheel of the Year.
What has been missing is a collective national voice. In a moment where interfaith agreement was possible, the response has been silence.
Without taking political sides, there was an opportunity to remind everyone that the dead should not be forgotten. They too need advocates, and right now, all our national organizations have failed them.
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