Under pressure, Trump tersely recognizes McCain
WASHINGTON — Glowering in public and nearly silent for two days, President Donald Trump relented under pressure Monday by recognizing Sen. John McCain's "service to our country" and re-lowering the White House flag.
While much of the nation remembered McCain's record as a war hero, longtime senator and presidential nominee over the weekend, Trump had nursed his grievances, as McCain had been an infuriating foil in a long-running feud.
Before Trump's Monday afternoon statement, his only commentary on McCain's death had been a perfunctory tweet Saturday — after he had rejected a statement drafted by his staff honoring the senator. The lack of a formal statement — combined with the fact that White House flags were flown at half-staff only briefly — drew strong criticism from Republicans, Democrats and veterans groups.
When he finally did comment, in a statement, Trump was sparing with his praise for the six-term senator: "Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Senator John McCain's service to our country."
Later, at an evening dinner honoring evangelical leaders, Trump said "our hearts and prayers" are going to the family "and we very much appreciate everything that Senator McCain has done for our country."
Earlier in the day, a stonefaced Trump sat mute as reporters at several photo sessions invited him to comment on McCain.
Publicly, Trump has frequently railed against McCain's dramatic thumbs-down vote against the president's efforts A wooden stake marks the spot where Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will be buried on the grounds of the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. McCain is to be buried next to his best friend, Adm. Chuck Larson. to repeal President Barack Obama's health-care law. Privately, he has groused about such slights as his belief that McCain did not appreciate his endorsement in the senator's 2016 re-election bid.
The flag above the White House spoke volumes. It was briefly lowered to half-staff over the weekend, then went back up to full height Monday while flags at the U.S. Capitol and elsewhere, including in Ohio, stayed at half-staff. Shortly before Trump issued his written statement, the flag was lowered again to half-staff.
That was after complaints had risen all day from both right and left, and then from a group the president assuredly does not want to offend.
"On the behalf of The American Legion's two million wartime veterans, I strongly urge you to make an appropriate presidential proclamation noting Senator McCain's death and legacy of service to our nation, and that our nation's flag be half-staffed through his internment," said a statement directed to him from Denise Rohan, the organization's
national commander.
Former presidents will speak at McCain's funeral Saturday, but the senator's family made clear they did not want Trump to attend.
Trump said he has asked Vice President Mike Pence to speak at a ceremony honoring McCain at the Capitol on Friday and that other administration officials would attend memorial services. He also said he'd agreed to the McCain family's request for military transportation of the senator's remains from Arizona to Washington. Burial will be Sunday at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
In a final letter released Monday, McCain appeared to repudiate Trump's politics one last time, saying: "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."
"Do not despair of our present difficulties," he wrote. "But believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here."