Gold Star Mom Defends Trump's Arlington Visit, Slams Biden and Harris for Absence

Kelly Barnett, whose son was killed during the Afghanistan withdrawal, expressed gratitude for former President Trump's presence at Arlington Cemetery, despite criticism from media outlets and the Biden-Harris administration.

Kelly Barnett, a Gold Star mother whose son, Taylor Hoover, was killed during the Afghanistan withdrawal, has come to the defense of former President Trump after he attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington Cemetery to honor the 13 service members who died in a terrorist attack last year.

Barnett, who joined Fox News' "America's Newsroom," asserted that both President Biden and Vice President Harris were aware of the ceremony and invited but failed to attend, leaving her and other Gold Star families deeply disappointed.

Gold Star Mom Defends Trump's Arlington Visit, Slams Biden and Harris for Absence

"I didn't invite [Biden or Harris] personally, but Governor Cox of Utah sent them a letter informing them of the event," Barnett said. "They were aware of the ceremony, they knew it would be in their best interest to be there, and they refused to attend."

Trump joined Gold Star families at Arlington National Cemetery on August 26th for a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the fallen service members killed in the August 26, 2021 attack at Abbey Gate outside Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Gold Star Mom Defends Trump's Arlington Visit, Slams Biden and Harris for Absence

Barnett explained that she and the other families felt compelled to invite the former president because of his unwavering support throughout their grieving process. They had also authorized a Trump campaign photographer to document the event, as Fox News previously reported.

Following the event, media outlets such as NPR and the Associated Press reported that the photographer had filmed footage in a restricted area where political activity is prohibited. The U.S. Army claimed that a cemetery staffer had been "abruptly pushed aside" during the ceremony.

Gold Star Mom Defends Trump's Arlington Visit, Slams Biden and Harris for Absence

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung dismissed these reports, arguing that the staffer who had blocked the campaign photographer appeared to be having a "mental health episode." He also emphasized that the campaign had been granted permission to bring a photographer.

Barnett vehemently disputed these reports, asserting that she witnessed nothing resembling an altercation and described the ceremony as "quiet" and "peaceful." Barnett was grateful for Trump's presence, finding solace and support in his compassion for the families.

Gold Star Mom Defends Trump's Arlington Visit, Slams Biden and Harris for Absence

"It was so respectful and so quiet and peaceful as it always is at Arlington," Barnett said. "Donald Trump was close to me. We were talking about Taylor and how grateful I was for him being there. I heard nothing. I don't know where this occurred. I don't know the reason for it."

Vice President Harris criticized Trump's Arlington visit over the weekend, accusing him of "politicizing" the fallen service members. However, Gold Star families have since released an ad condemning the Biden-Harris administration for their handling of the deaths.

"We've been disrespected so much in the last three years. It's been three years. No response from them," Barnett said. "Donald Trump has been our rock, and he's been there for us to give us a little bit of peace."

"It makes no sense that they throw daggers at us. It makes no sense that they throw daggers at him, except for the fact that they weren't there, and they felt ashamed or that [they] were angry that he was with us," she continued.

This development highlights the ongoing debate over the appropriate role of politics in honoring fallen service members, with President Biden facing mounting criticism for his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal and his perceived lack of empathy for Gold Star families.