After news broke about an altercation at the Arlington National Ceremony involving former President Donald Trump’s staff, some social media users drew parallels between that incident and a years-old campaign ad by President Joe Biden at the same location.
An NPR report described a verbal and physical dispute that happened after a cemetery official tried to prevent Trump campaign staff from entering and taking photos in an area known as Section 60, an area containing the graves of recent U.S. casualties. Federal rules prohibit political campaigns from taking photos in the area.
Users on X resurfaced a May 25, 2020, Memorial Day campaign ad that President Joe Biden shared on his official X account. It featured a photo, dated May 31, 2010, of Biden standing over a tombstone.
“Well well well,” read one Aug. 29 X post by conservative commentator Jack Posobiec. “Joe Biden literally did a campaign ad at the graves in Arlington in 2020.” Donald Trump Jr. also amplified these claims.
Screenshot from X (PolitiFact)
But the circumstances surrounding the two events are different. The photo of Biden at Section 60 was taken while he was performing his duties as vice president, not as part of a campaign.
The public can take photos at Arlington National Cemetery without a release from Arlington or the Army Department. But Arlington National Cemetery’s media policy prohibits filming or photographing “if it conveys the impression that cemetery officials or any visitor or family member is endorsing any product, service or organization.”
The policy also said the cemetery will not authorize “filming for partisan, political or fundraising purposes,” citing 32 Code of Federal Regulations 553 of the Hatch Act. That law says “memorial services and ceremonies at Army National Military Cemeteries will not include partisan political activities.”
On May 31, 2010, the date of the photo featured in the ad, Biden was vice president. He participated in a wreath-laying ceremony and delivered a speech as part of his duties. PolitiFact couldn’t find the photo’s source online, but similar photos show him meeting with families in Section 60. The Defense Department also uploaded a photo of Biden speaking with families in Section 60.
At the time, Biden was not running for office. He was sworn in as vice president Jan. 20, 2009. Former President Barack Obama launched his reelection bid with Biden on April 4, 2011.
Biden’s ad, which honored the military and fallen service members’ families, also included this disclaimer at the start of the video: “The use of U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) visual information does not imply or constitute endorsement of the U.S. military, any military personnel or the Department of Defense.”
Trump visited Section 60 on the anniversary of a suicide bombing that killed 13 service members. Some service members’ relatives invited him to visit their loved ones’ graves, The Washington Post reported. Later, a TikTok video featuring a montage of that visit was uploaded on Trump’s official account. It showed clips of Trump visiting tombstones and meeting families while the ad’s narration and text criticized how Biden’s administration handled the U.S.’ exit from Afghanistan, when the suicide bombing happened.
The U.S. Army issued a statement defending the cemetery official who tried to stop Trump’s campaign staff from filming, calling the incident “unfortunate.”
PolitiFact contacted the White House, Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Army for comment but has not received on-the-record responses.
Our ruling
An X post said that Biden “did a campaign ad at the graves in Arlington in 2020.”
Biden shared a 2020 campaign ad that included a photo taken at Arlington National Cemetery, but it was taken in 2010 as part of his vice presidential duties, not as part of a campaign activity.
The statement contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression. We rate it Mostly False.
This fact check was originally published by PolitiFact, which is part of the Poynter Institute. See the sources for this fact check here.
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