Two Gold Star fathers, Mark Schmitz, and Steve Nikoui, are pushing back against what they see as unfair media criticism of former President Donald Trump following his attendance at a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

The fathers expressed their frustration over the portrayal of the event as a political stunt, emphasizing that the ceremony was deeply personal for them and other bereaved families in that it -- and Trump -- honored the 13 American service members who lost their lives in a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate, Kabul, on Aug. 26, 2021, as Newsmax reports.

Schmitz and Nikoui appeared on Newsmax on Friday to discuss the event and their disappointment with how it has been covered by some news outlets. Schmitz, whose son, Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, was among those killed in the Kabul bombing, shared his dismay at how the event has been depicted and critiqued.

Trump’s Arlington Visit Criticized as a Political Move

The controversy began when Trump attended the wreath-laying ceremony at the request of the families. According to Schmitz, the media's portrayal of Trump’s participation as a campaign tactic is misleading and hurtful. He said, "They're simply trying to paint it as if Trump uses this as a campaign ploy to, to gain votes. And it couldn't be further from the truth."

Nikoui, whose son, Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, was also killed in the Abbey Gate attack, echoed these sentiments. He pointed out that the event was a solemn tribute to the fallen, not a political maneuver.

"It was in honor of a situation that was caused by that administration," Nikoui remarked, referring to the Biden-Harris administration. "So for them to, you know, void any responsibility is their goal. And this is one of the ways that they are doing it."

Families Requested Trump’s Attendance at Ceremony

Both fathers highlighted that it was the families of the fallen who requested Trump's attendance at the Arlington ceremony. Schmitz revealed that the families had previously asked the White House for a roundtable discussion to address the circumstances surrounding the Kabul attack, but their request was ignored.

"If you look back to when we asked the White House to get together and have a family roundtable with them to discuss everything that happened, it was crickets. There was no reply whatsoever," Schmitz said.

In contrast, Trump was receptive to their request and went above and beyond in his response. "We asked that of Trump, he said absolutely. He was going to give us two hours — ended up being six hours. The man was a leader," Schmitz added, underscoring the difference in response between the former president and the current administration.

Gold Star Families Feel Betrayed by Media Coverage

The fathers also expressed their anger towards organizations that have criticized Trump's attendance at the ceremony. Schmitz described the media's actions as a betrayal of the families' trust and an additional burden on their grief.

"For them to turn this around and make it look like it was just a political stunt is, quite frankly, a kick in the you-know-what to the families. They're trying to hurt Trump, ultimately, but what they're doing is just adding more salt to the wound for us."

Nikoui directed his frustration at veterans' organizations that have criticized the event, accusing them of hypocrisy. "Shame on some of those organizations, organizations who have spoken out about it, some of these veterans organizations or something. They're doing exactly what they're claiming we're doing or what they're claiming that the president was doing -- using it as a political ploy," he said.

White House Silence Frustrates Grieving Families

The fathers also pointed out the lack of attention and support from the current administration. Nikoui questioned where the outrage was when the White House failed to honor their fallen children in a similar manner. "And I asked them, where were they when, you know, neither this administration, the vice president or the president, has ever done the same thing; they've never honored our kids. Where is their same outrage for that?"

Schmitz and Nikoui emphasized that Trump's attendance was at the behest of the families, and they were grateful for his willingness to engage with them on such a personal level. The ceremony, they argued, was a rightful tribute to their sons and not a platform for political posturing.

Conclusion: Families Defend Trump's Arlington Visit

In conclusion, the Gold Star fathers Mark Schmitz and Steve Nikoui defended former President Trump's participation in the Arlington wreath-laying ceremony, rejecting claims that it was a political ploy.

They expressed frustration with both the media and organizations that criticized the event, accusing them of furthering their own agendas at the expense of the grieving families.

The fathers contrasted Trump’s response with that of the current administration, highlighting how the former president gave them the time and attention they had requested, something they felt was lacking from the White House.

The Arlington ceremony, in their view, was a necessary and heartfelt tribute to the 13 service members who lost their lives in Kabul, and they expressed relief that Trump honored their wishes by attending.