NBC Issues Retraction After Kristen Welker’s False Claim About Kamala Harris at Arlington Cemetery
NBC’s “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker faced sharp criticism and NBC was forced to issue a retraction after Welker falsely claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris attended the dignified transfer of 13 U.S. service members who were killed during the 2021 Kabul airport suicide bombing. The incident occurred during the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan under the Biden administration.
The controversy arose during a heated exchange on “Meet the Press” between Welker and Senator Tom Cotton, where the topic of President Donald Trump’s appearance at Arlington National Cemetery was also discussed. Trump had been invited by Gold Star families to commemorate the third anniversary of the service members’ deaths.
The Arlington Cemetery Visit
Former President Trump has been heavily criticized by the left, including Vice President Harris and sections of the media, for attending the solemn event at Arlington alongside Gold Star families. Critics accused Trump of politicizing the occasion, but Gold Star families have pushed back, firmly defending his presence.
In a statement addressing the backlash, the families clarified their position, saying, “President Trump was invited by us, the Gold Star families, to attend the solemn ceremonies commemorating the three-year anniversary of our children’s deaths. He was there to honor their sacrifice, yet Vice President Harris has disgracefully twisted this sacred moment into a political ploy.”
Senator Cotton Defends Trump
During his appearance on “Meet the Press,” Sen. Cotton defended Trump’s decision to attend the Arlington ceremony, emphasizing the importance of the event to the grieving families. Cotton explained, “He didn’t take campaign photos. These are Gold Star families, whose children died because of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ incompetence. They invited him to the cemetery, and they asked him to take those photos.”
He continued, “As they told me yesterday, when I spoke to Kelly Barnett and Darren Hoover, the parents of Taylor Hoover, who has Arkansas ties, they don’t get to go to the beach on Labor Day. They don’t get to have barbecues. This is their one chance to have a memory of their children, to commemorate their service and to honor their sacrifice. They wanted President Trump there.”
Cotton Criticizes Biden and Harris
Sen. Cotton also criticized President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their absence at the Arlington event, noting that both had been invited by the families.
“Where were they?” Cotton asked rhetorically. “Joe Biden was sitting at a beach. Kamala Harris was sitting at her mansion in Washington, D.C.”
This pointed critique highlighted a growing frustration among many who feel the Biden administration has failed to adequately address or honor the sacrifices made by the military and their families during the Afghanistan withdrawal.
Kristen Welker’s False Claim
It was during this portion of the discussion that Kristen Welker attempted to defend Vice President Harris by making an untrue statement. Welker claimed that Harris had joined President Biden in attending the dignified transfer of the 13 service members at Dover Air Force Base on August 29, 2021.
The dignified transfer was the somber occasion during which the flag-draped caskets of the fallen soldiers were returned to the United States. The event became infamous for President Biden’s behavior, as he was widely criticized for appearing to check his watch during the ceremony.
However, Vice President Harris was not present at this event. Her absence was widely noted at the time, adding to the criticism of the administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.
