Gold Star families slam VP Harris over comments calling Trump's Arlington visit a 'political stunt'

Gold Star families who lost loved ones during the Afghanistan withdrawal criticized Vice President Kamala Harris over her attack on former President Donald Trump after he paid his respects at Arlington National Cemetery last week. Harris said Trump was playing politics with the visit.

Eight of the Gold Star families released a series of short videos blasting the Biden-Harris administration over the Afghanistan withdrawal that left 13 U.S. service members dead, Fox News reported.

The videos, posted to Trump's Instagram account, were released following a statement by Harris on Saturday criticizing Trump for taking photographs at the Arlington National Cemetery wreath-laying ceremony event on Monday.

The U.S. Army said an Arlington official was "abruptly pushed aside" during an interaction with Trump's staff.

"As Vice President, I have had the privilege of visiting Arlington National Cemetery several times," Harris said. "It is not a place for politics. And yet, as was reported this week, Donald Trump’s team chose to film a video there, resulting in an altercation with cemetery staff."

"Let me be clear: the former president disrespected sacred ground, all for the sake of a political stunt," Harris added.

The Gold Star families pushed back, maintaining they invited Trump to take pictures with them.

Mark Schmitz, the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, said Harris's statement was "heinous, vile and disgusting."

"Why did we want Trump there? It wasn't to help his political campaign," Schmitz said in a video. "We wanted a leader. That explains why you and Joe didn't get a call."