President bows to criticism and declares his ‘respect’ for Mccain
DONALD TRUMP last night declared his “respect” for John Mccain and ordered all US flags on public buildings to be flown at half-mast, bowing to criticism over his initial response to the senator’s death.
The US president arranged for the military to help transport Mr Mccain’s remains from Arizona to Washington DC, where he will lie in state, and asked senior figures to attend his funeral.
It came after growing outcry over Mr Trump’s lack of praise for the 81-year-old former presidential candidate, with whom he frequently clashed ever since his 2016 presidential bid.
Mr Trump declined to answer numerous shouted questions about Mr Mccain from reporters in the White House’s Oval Office yesterday after an announcement on trade.
That followed reports that the US president had decided not to issue a statement drafted by White House aides praising Mr Mccain as a “hero”, instead sending a brief tweet on Saturday, which read: “My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John Mccain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!”
Critics noted that the comments included no praise for Mr Mccain’s life and years of service first as a soldier and prisoner of war in Vietnam and then as a US congressman – in marked contrast to the reaction of other leading political figures.
Anger mounted yesterday when the White House’s flag, which had flown at half-mast on Sunday, returned to normal despite mourning continuing.
Mr Trump changed that yesterday, issuing a statement that read: “Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Senator John Mccain’s service to our country and, in his honor, have signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff until the day of his interment.”
He added that Mike Pence, the vice president, will speak at an honouring ceremony in Congress while James Mattis and John Bolton, the defence secretary and White House national security adviser, will attend Mr Mccain’s funeral.
Text of the proclamation Mr Trump signed showed that the half-mast rule will apply to all public buildings, military posts and naval stations in America, as well as all US embassies.
Mr Mccain appeared to use his final message, read posthumously by Rick Davis, his campaign manager, yesterday, to push back against the president’s agenda. “We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe.
“We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been.”