ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va. — Following the recent media flap over former president Donald Trump’s visit to Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, several families of current service members who happened to be visiting Arlington at the same time expressed concern over how Trump’s incident would affect their vote in this fall’s presidential election.

“I’ve got a daughter in the Marines and a son in the Navy,” said Blue Star mom Cynthia Brixton, “and what I saw from Trump’s visit really has me in a quandary. What flavor of emotional devastation do I want if one of my babies gets killed in the line of duty? I knew that neither candidate really gave a shit about our military, but if I’m going to have a gaping hole in my heart for the rest of my life, I really need to make the right choice in November.”

The incident that caused Mrs. Brixton’s conundrum occurred several days ago when Trump dropped by Arlington to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, visit the graves of service members killed during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, shove the park staff around, and get in a quick 9 holes before leaving to sell more digital trading cards. Trump was quickly criticized for stepping in it, though he seemed relieved when told the expression was metaphorical and that he hadn’t actually stepped in the loser goo known to pervade military cemeteries. 

While Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris condemned Trump’s behavior, several families of those killed in the Afghanistan withdrawal defended the former president, and that is why military parents like DeShaun Johnson feel conflicted.

“My grandfather served in the Army, I served in the Army, and my son now serves in the Army,” said Johnson, “and I’m proud that he’s continuing the family tradition. But I’m starting to get the sense that the people who want to be commander-in-chief might not care about the young Americans they order into harm’s way. I can’t put my finger on it, but little things like not contacting the loved ones of soldiers or Marines blown into red mist after you sent them somewhere make me suspicious. So in 2025, if my boy is ordered on an impossible mission overseas and doesn’t come home, do I want Trump to forget to call me or Harris? It’s a pickle.”

Jenna Cheung, who was planting American flags on graves in Section 60, agreed.