Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Thursday (August 29) he “does not need the publicity” after being accused of politicizing a visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

During a speech in Michigan on Thursday, Trump said families of service members who died in Afghanistan had asked him to go to Arlington National Cemetery and take photographs with them.

"They love me and I love them," Trump said.

Trump's comments come as the U.S. Army defended the Arlington National Cemetery employee who was pushed aside during Trump's visit earlier this week, saying that she acted professionally and was being unfairly attacked.

Trump visited the cemetery and took part in a wreath-laying ceremony honoring the 13 service members killed during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

He also visited Section 60 of the cemetery, where troops are buried and which is considered hallowed ground in the military.

Federal law and Pentagon policies do not allow political activities in that section of the cemetery, but videos were taken by Trump's campaign and used in advertisements.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung had said: "The fact is that a private photographer was permitted on the premises and for whatever reason an unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump's team during a very solemn ceremony."

The Army released a statement defending the employee saying, "An ANC (Arlington National Cemetery) employee who attempted to ensure adherence to these rules was abruptly pushed aside," the Army statement said.

"This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked," it added.

The military rarely comments on political matters and while its statement on Thursday did not explicitly mention Trump or his 2024 presidential campaign, it made reference to a Monday ceremony.

Trump also said Thursday the government or insurance companies will pay for IVF fertility treatments if he is elected.

"Your government will pay for or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for all costs associated with IVF treatment fertilization for women," the former president told supporters in Michigan.