1st Lt. Jimmy McCain, the youngest son of the late Sen. John McCain, has condemned former President Donald Trump’s recent campaign appearance at Arlington National Cemetery, calling it a “violation.” McCain, who recently changed his voter registration to Democrat and plans to support Kamala Harris in the upcoming election, expressed his dismay in an exclusive interview with CNN.

The incident occurred last Monday when Trump visited Arlington after a wreath-laying ceremony honoring 13 U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan in 2021. Trump’s campaign filmed his visit, which McCain argues was disrespectful to those buried there, including his own family members. “These men and women that are laying in the ground there have no choice” of whether to be part of a political campaign, McCain stated.

McCain’s remarks highlight his broader shift away from the Republican Party, a significant departure given his family’s conservative roots. He is the first in the McCain family to publicly register as a Democrat, distancing himself from Trump’s rhetoric and actions. Despite personal pain caused by Trump’s past attacks on his father, McCain chose to remain politically neutral until now. He described Trump’s actions at Arlington as crossing a line of respect for the fallen.

McCain, a Marine Corps veteran and current Army intelligence officer, emphasized the importance of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. He criticized the Trump campaign’s filming at the cemetery, which violated federal law, Army regulations, and Defense Department policies. Trump’s campaign, however, dismissed the controversy, with a manager calling it a “manufactured story.”

As McCain becomes more politically active, he continues to honor his father’s legacy, highlighting the sacrifices of service members and calling for respect at Arlington National Cemetery.