Former President Donald Trump has stood by Gold Star families in the wake of the Biden-Harris administration’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, according to Gold Star mothers Kelly Barnett and Coral Doolittle.
Both mothers, who lost their sons in the Kabul airport bombing during the withdrawal, appeared on War Room with guest host and Breitbart News Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle to share their stories and express their gratitude for Trump’s ongoing support.
Doolittle, the mother of Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, condemned the politicization of everything by the current administration, especially after Vice President Kamala Harris made controversial remarks about Trump’s recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
Trump had been invited by the Gold Star families to honor their children, an act that Doolittle said Harris tried to spin into a political issue. “They just cannot stand that Trump did something that they’re not able to do,” Doolittle remarked, frustrated by the administration’s attempt to criticize Trump’s actions.
As Vice President, I have had the privilege of visiting Arlington National Cemetery several times. It is a solemn place; a place where we come together to honor American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of this nation.
It is not a place for politics.
And…
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 31, 2024
Barnett, the mother of Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, revealed that she personally reached out to Trump’s team, asking him to come to Arlington to honor the 13 service members who died during the withdrawal. She described the event as a “beautiful day,” noting that Trump had always been a source of comfort and a listening ear for the families. She emphasized that no rules were broken during the ceremony, despite Harris’s public claims to the contrary.
The mothers explained that they had specifically requested photos from the event, for the benefit of family members who couldn’t attend. Doolittle dismissed the accusations of wrongdoing, insisting that Trump had paid his respects in a dignified manner, remembering the names of all 13 fallen soldiers—something she said no one else in the current administration had taken the time to do.
Barnett went on to criticize the hatred she believes is driving the attacks against Trump. She expressed dismay that even Gold Star families have become targets in the political crossfire, noting that Democrats’ disdain for Trump seems to know no boundaries. “Gold Star families are off limits,” Barnett stated, calling the attacks “sickening.”
The mothers shared how Trump’s presence and the ceremony had brought them peace, even if only for a few hours. Barnett recalled how the event lifted their spirits and provided much-needed solace. In contrast, the politicization of the visit by Harris and others only added to the families’ grief.
