Trump campaign, Arlington National Cemetery staff clash at event

CPT Lawrence Cable - From a factual point, there are misleading statements in the article. For example, "The Trump campaign denied the allegations and said they received permission from families of fallen service members to film, though federal law prohibits political campaign activity on the grounds of military cemeteries" implies that a political campaign is banned from being there (why else would they tied "federal law prohibits..." to 'received permission from families to film').

The "Law" prohibits political campaigning activities from occurring on the cemetery as it does for all federal property, not the presence of any political campaign personnel or candidate.

What is laid out in the Arlington National Cemetery Media Policy* is, "Filming or photographing will not be permitted if it conveys the impression that cemetery officials or any visitor or family member is endorsing any product, service or organization. Additionally, ANC will not authorize any filming for partisan, political or fundraising purposes, in accordance with the Hatch Act, 32 CFR 553, and AR 360-1."

However, the media policy does not ban individuals based on who they are (i.e., political candidate, staff from the political organization, etc.) but it does based on the purpose of the photography or videography.

I'm sure one group will say the filming/photography was being done for non-partisan purposes (recording for the family members and not for the campaign) and the other group will say it was being done for partisan reasons (campaign will make a political ad out of it or something).

Regardless of what the supporters/detractors say though, the ANMC PAO has full authority to deny a request if they view it would "give the appearance of endorsing a particular organization, cause, movement or political campaign".

If the media report is correct (since he's so polarizing, I trust less than 1% of anything I read (positive or negative) about him I see/hear until I verify it myself), then the campaign personnel would have had to have PAO approval to be there (see policy, Para. 5f) and allowed/prohibited activities would have been enumerated.
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* https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Portals/0/Docs/ANC-media-policy.pdf

COL Randall C. Yes, I have read that also. He was there at the request of the family and The Trump organization said that they requested that it be filmed. The ceremony request has to be filed 180 days ahead and that is part of that process.

COL Randall C. Damn phone. My point being that the media would be allowed to cover the event, apparently several were there, so unless Trump was campaigning actively, someone sounds like they overstepped their real authority.

CPT Lawrence Cable - Trump isn't just some random guy or organization off the street. He's the candidate for the highest political office in the world. So how did he use those photos? For his campaign, exactly as he wasn't supposed to.

The article wasn't wrong, the law is based on the purpose of the filming. Any reasonable person knows the prohibited purpose is why he did it and the prohibited purpose is how he used the photos. You pointing at some other purpose that is legal doesn't make the article wrong or his use allowable.