Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) ripped into former President Donald Trump following controversy surrounding his appearance at Arlington National Cemetery, which some observers have said is at the very least a breach of decorum and possibly illegal.
The Republican nominee posed for photos and videos alongside the families of two service members killed in an August 2021 bombing attack. Critics questioned why Trump posed with a grin and his customary thumbs-up gesture.
Trump and running mate J.D. Vance have deflected all criticism and tried to claim they were just honoring the servicemembers killed in action during the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
"Can you explain why a certain kind of footage is permissible in specific locations, but it's frowned upon or barred and other parts of the cemetery?" asked anchor Anderson Cooper. "Because there's — apparently you're not supposed to take video that's used for campaign purposes."
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"That's right," confirmed Moulton, himself a Marine veteran, adding: "We want to honor our veterans, not exploit them."
"And I will always hail the heroes of Abbey Gate, those Marines who risked their lives so that thousands of others could be free. And of course, the 13 servicemen and women who lost their lives trying to save so many others. They'll go down in history as American heroes. And I'll be saying that to the day I die, because I was fortunate enough, Anderson, to actually witness their work right there at Abbey Gate."
Moulton then blasted Trump and accused him of trying to exploit those soldiers.
"But then to take that sacrifice and twist it and exploit it for partisan political gain is shameful," Moulton continued. "It's shameful and — it's not only shameful, it's illegal. And yet given what we know about Donald Trump and his fundamental disrespect for veterans, for those who serve — he had him a draft. He is, of course, a draft dodger himself. This really is just par for the course, when it comes to how Trump treats veterans."
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