Misty Fuoco, left, Nicole Gee’s sister, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump place their hands over their hearts after laying a wreath in honor of Staff Sgt. Nicole Gee at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump’s campaign released a statement Sunday from the families of Gold Star-winning soldiers who invited him to Arlington National Cemetery, where they defended the Republican presidential candidate and claimed Vice President Kamala Harris is a candidate who is politicizing fallen U.S. military members.

It is the latest installment in a long exchange in which Trump has sought to blame Harris for the Biden administration’s handling of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, including a suicide bombing that killed 13 American troops.

Harris on Saturday accused Trump of staging a “political stunt” that “disrespected sacred ground” where many of the Afghan war dead are buried. Trump and the families of some of those killed in the attack blame Harris, as they did President Joe Biden before he ended his reelection campaign, for the deaths of their loved ones. The families say the former president was paying tribute to their loved ones when he arrived at Arlington.

His staff later distributed photos of the visit, even though a ban on party activities was in force at the cemetery.

“President Trump was invited by us, the Gold Star families, to the solemn ceremonies marking the third anniversary of our children’s deaths,” the relatives said in a joint statement. “He was there to honor their sacrifice, yet Vice President Harris shamefully twisted this sacred moment into a political stunt.”

The families of Gold Star recipients have lost a loved one during military service.

Trump laid wreaths last Monday in honor of Sgt. Nicole Gee, Sgt. Darin Hoover and Sgt. Ryan Knauss. They were among 13 American soldiers and more than 100 Afghans killed in a bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021, as American forces were withdrawing from Afghanistan.

Trump thanked family members for their statement on social media. “Thank you for saying that you wanted me to stand with you … and take pictures, that it was your request, not mine,” he wrote.

Throughout the weekend, Trump used his social media accounts to circulate videos of statements from relatives who signed the statement.

Christy Shamblin, Gee’s mother-in-law, said in a 90-second message that Trump and his aides were “respectful” and “comforting” to the families who gathered in Arlington. She then addressed her comments directly to Harris.

“Why don’t you call me back and explain why you call my daughter-in-law’s death a success?” Shamblin said. “Why did you take the day we celebrated the deaths of our loved ones and use it to discredit not only them, but us.”

Biden and first lady Jill Biden traveled to Dover Air Force Base in 2021 for a ceremony to return the remains of the service members to U.S. soil. The Bidens met privately with family members in Dover. The Bidens were joined at the ceremony by several top administration aides, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, then-Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Shamblin was among several family members who also spoke at the Republican National Convention in July on Trump’s behalf. Several family members joined Trump’s vice presidential candidate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, on a conference call with the media.

Trump’s appearance became a point of controversy after defense officials said his campaign was warned not to take photos and an altercation broke out between Trump aides and a cemetery employee. Officials later said the employee, who was allegedly “verbally abused and pushed away” by two Trump campaign staff members, declined to press charges.

The Trump campaign has since sharply criticized Pentagon officials, with top campaign adviser Chris LaCivita calling military spokespeople “hackers.” Trump campaign officials say the campaign had permission to invite someone to record the video.

Since Biden ended his reelection bid in July, Trump has focused on Harris and her role in foreign policy decisions, highlighting the vice president’s comments that she was the last person in the room before Biden made the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan.

The Biden administration has been implementing the withdrawal commitment and timeline that the Trump administration negotiated with the Taliban in 2020. A 2022 review by a government-appointed special investigator found that decisions made by both Trump and Biden were key factors leading to the rapid collapse of the Afghan military and the rise of the Taliban.

During the campaign this year, Trump said leaving the country was the right decision but that the Biden administration executed it poorly.

“I was leaving, but we were supposed to leave with dignity and strength,” he said in an interview with Fox News that was taped after his visit to Arlington and aired Sunday evening. “They should have done it a lot differently. … They should have brought the soldiers out last.”

Marlon Bateman, left, former U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Tyler Vargas, former U.S. Marine Corporal Kelsee Lainhart, center front, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump place their hands over their hearts after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in honor of 13 fallen soldiers at the Abbey Gate at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Bill Barnett, left, grandfather of Darin Taylor Hoover, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in honor of Staff Sergeant Darin Taylor Hoover at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Bill Barnett, left, grandfather of Darin Taylor Hoover, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in honor of Staff Sergeant Darin Taylor Hoover at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)