NPR identifies Trump campaign staffers involved in Arlington National Cemetery altercation

One of the men identified, Justin Caporale, is Trump's deputy campaign manager

By Nandika Chatterjee

News Fellow

Published September 6, 2024 11:43AM (EDT)

Republican Presidential nominee former President Donald J. Trump holds his first public campaign rally with his running mate, Vice Presidential nominee U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) , at the Van Andel Arena on July 20, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Republican Presidential nominee former President Donald J. Trump holds his first public campaign rally with his running mate, Vice Presidential nominee U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) , at the Van Andel Arena on July 20, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Two Donald Trump staffers who were involved in a physical altercation with an official at Arlington National Cemetery have now been identified, NPR reported.

According to NPR, the two men are Michel Picard, a member of Trump's advance team, and Justin Caporale, Trump's deputy campaign manager. The two verbally abused an employee who tried to prevent them from filming campaign material in Section 60 of the military cemetery, the resting place for many U.S. soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Caporale previously served as an aide to Melania Trump, NPR reported, and also worked for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In a statement last week, the U.S. Army said the employee, a woman, was later shoved aside when she tried to enforce the rule against using the grave sites for partisan political purposes.

The Trump campaign had been informed of the rules beforehand. Federal law also prohibits campaigning at Arlington National Cemetery.

Despite the prohibition, the Trump campaign definitely took photos. Indeed, it posted a campaign ad on TikTok using footage from the restricted area of the cemetery.

As the U.S. Army noted in its statement last week: "Participants in the August 26th ceremony and the subsequent Section 60 visit were made aware of federal laws, Army regulations and DoD policies, which clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds."


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