John McCain's Son Condemns Trump’s Arlington National Cemetery Visit as a "Violation
In a powerful statement this week, First Lieutenant Jimmy McCain, the son of the late Senator John McCain, has denounced former President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery as a “violation.” The younger McCain, who has been moving away from the Republican Party and recently changed his voter registration to Democrat, expressed his strong disapproval in an exclusive interview with CNN.
The controversy centers around Trump’s campaign event at Arlington National Cemetery last Monday, where Trump reportedly attempted to film and photograph in restricted areas, leading to an altercation with cemetery staff. According to the U.S. Army, such activities violate federal laws and Army regulations. The Trump campaign has disputed this, with campaign manager Chris LaCivita dismissing the Army’s account as “100% a manufactured story” and referring to their staff as “hacks.”
McCain, who has served in the military for 17 years, was particularly affected by the incident due to his family’s deep connection to the cemetery. Several generations of McCain’s family, including his grandfather and great-grandfather, are buried there.
The former Marine Corps intelligence officer described the visit as an inappropriate use of hallowed ground, stating, “These men and women that are laying in the ground there have no choice” about being part of a political backdrop. He emphasized that such behavior is disrespectful to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
This incident has been a catalyst for McCain’s public departure from the Republican Party, which has been a gradual process over recent months. He recently registered as a Democrat and has declared his support for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. McCain has also expressed a commitment to actively support Harris’ campaign.
The visit has brought McCain’s personal grievances with Trump into sharp focus. Trump’s attacks on his father—calling him a “loser” and disparaging his military service—have been deeply hurtful to McCain. While Jimmy McCain had previously avoided political commentary, the Arlington incident was a turning point.
He criticized Trump’s apparent disregard for the sanctity of military service and suggested that Trump's behavior might stem from insecurities about his own lack of military service, given Trump’s well-known avoidance of the Vietnam War due to bone spurs.
McCain’s frustration was heightened by the timing of the incident, as he had recently returned from a deployment on the Jordan-Syria border, where he reflected on the sacrifices of service members. He noted that Trump’s actions at Arlington not only disrespected those buried there but also added pain for the families of recently fallen soldiers.
The controversy also touches on a broader pattern of Trump’s contentious relationship with military and veteran issues. Trump has been criticized for his past comments about service members and veterans, including derogatory remarks about those who have died in service.
As McCain prepares to further involve himself in the election cycle, his support for Harris marks a significant personal and political shift. He expressed a desire to honor his father’s legacy and to stand against what he perceives as disrespectful behavior towards military service and fallen heroes.
“My father was a good man who did his part,” McCain reflected. “For me to be with him towards the end of his life and hear things like he was a loser because he was captured—I don’t think I could ever overlook that.”