Trump campaign releases full statement, video from Afghanistan Gold Star families

PEKCRB U.S President Donald Trump addresses soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division during a visit to sign the John McCain National Defense Authorization Act August 13, 2018 in Fort Drum, New York.

Photo: Alamy

The Trump campaign released a statement on Sunday from the Gold Star families who lost loved ones when 13 military service members were killed during a bombing outside of the Kabul airport three years ago.

The statement criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s response and followed the release of several videos by family members in defense of President Donald Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery to mark the anniversary of the deaths of the service members.

The statement is listed in its entirety below:

Today, Gold Star Families who lost their loved ones in the Harris-Biden Administration’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan released the following joint statement and heartfelt video messages in a direct response to Kamala Harris’ false, hypocritical, and disrespectful statement attacking President Trump:

“We, the families of the brave service members who were tragically killed in the Abbey Gate bombing, are appalled by Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent attempts to politicize President Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery. President Trump was invited by us, the Gold Star families, to attend the solemn ceremonies commemorating the three-year anniversary of our children’s deaths. He was there to honor their sacrifice, yet Vice President Harris has disgracefully twisted this sacred moment into a political ploy.

Vice President Harris bears responsibility for the deaths of our sons and daughters. Her administration’s catastrophic mishandling of the Afghanistan withdrawal directly led to the murder of 13 service members, including our children. Despite our multiple requests for a meeting to discuss the loss of our loved ones, Vice President Harris has repeatedly ignored us, showing a complete lack of empathy and accountability. This refusal to face the consequences of her administration’s decisions is a deep betrayal to us as Gold Star families.

President Trump, on the other hand, has been the only Commander-in-Chief to consistently recognize the heroism of our children. His attendance at Arlington was not for political gain but to stand with us, to grieve with us, and to honor the legacy of those who gave everything for this nation. His leadership during his time in office was strong, and we have no doubt that if he were still Commander-in-Chief, our children would be alive today.

Vice President Harris has proven herself unfit to serve as Commander-in-Chief. Her actions, both in the failure of the Afghanistan withdrawal and in her disgraceful politicization of this anniversary, have shown that she lacks the judgment, compassion, and leadership required for the position. We will continue to hold her accountable for the role she played in the deaths of our children, and we will not stand by as she disrespects their memory. America deserves better. Our children deserved better.”

Misty Fuoco, Sister of Sgt. Nicole L. Gee

Cheryl Juels, Aunt of Sgt. Nicole L. Gee

Christy Shamblin, Mother-in-law of Sgt. Nicole L. Gee

Mark Schmitz, Father of Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz

Jaclyn Schmitz, Stepmother of Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz

Herman Lopez, Father of Cpl. Hunter Lopez

Jim McCollum, Father of Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum

Steve Nikoui, Father of Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui

Coral Doolittle, Mother of Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez

Darin Hoover, Father of Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover

Kelly Barnett, Mother of Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover

The videos of several family members were also linked in the statement.

A separate post on social media by Trump included “A Message from Gold Star Families.” It is also available from the Trump campaign website.

RSBN previously covered the video accounts that were released over the weekend on social media.

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