Acosta Makes Wild Claims Against Trump

CNN anchor Jim Acosta implied that Republican nominee former President Donald Trump was “politicizing” the deaths of the 13 service members killed in Kabul, Afghanistan, by visiting Arlington National Cemetery on Monday.

Trump attended a ceremony to mark the three-year anniversary of the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, during which a suicide bomber took the lives of 13 U.S. service members near the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Acosta raised questions about whether Trump’s visit to the cemetery was merely a political gesture without addressing President Joe Biden’s vacation during the anniversary.

“[I]s he politicizing these soldiers’ deaths? Should he even be at Arlington National Cemetery if he’s gonna make some politics out of this?” Acosta asked Democratic Colorado Rep. Jason Crow.

“Well, I also mourn the deaths of those 13 service members,” Crow responded. “Every death of a service member is a tragedy. At the same time, I mourn the deaths of the 2,400 service members who died during the 20 years we were at war and I just look at President Biden, under whose leadership we actually ended and made the tough decision to end our nation’s longest war. It becomes very clear to me years ago that this war was not winnable through military means and sitting here today, we are honoring the death of those who died in service to our country and at the same time, we are not at war in Afghanistan and that was the right move by President Biden.”

CNN's Jim Acosta suggests Trump is "politicizing" the deaths of the thirteen service members by visiting Arlington National Cemetery. Biden is currently on vacation. pic.twitter.com/DV2QNg4ubv

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 26, 2024

On Monday, both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris issued statements to pay tribute to the 13 service members. President Biden praised the service members for their bravery, commitment and selflessness, and pledged that their sacrifices would never be forgotten.

“These 13 Americans—and the many more that were wounded—were patriots in the highest sense,” Biden said. “Some were born the year the war in Afghanistan started. Some were on their second or third tour. But all raised their hand to serve a cause greater than themselves—risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans, Allies, and Afghan partners. They embodied the very best of who we are as a nation: brave, committed, selfless. And we owe them and their families a sacred debt we will never be able to fully repay, but will never cease working to fulfill.”