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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFlashback: Donald Trump & MAGA's reaction when John McCain died
https://www.voanews.com/a/mccain-tributes/4547074.htmlSince his death, world leaders and McCain's former colleagues in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, have shared their favorite memories of McCain, and extolled his status as a senior statesman on the world stage. They have remembered his military service as a naval aviator, especially his valor in enduring beatings and torture during 5 1/2 years as a prisoner of war at the hands of North Vietnamese captors at the height of the Vietnam War in the 1960s.
But U.S. President Donald Trump, who frequently engaged in political taunts with McCain and three years ago said McCain was only deemed a hero because he was captured as a POW, was criticized after his initial reactions to McCain's death only expressed condolences to his family and didn't mention his military service or political career.
The White House, according to a Washington Post report Monday, prepared a statement extolling McCain's life and calling him a hero, but Trump rejected issuing it.
Flags at the White House were lowered to half-staff over the weekend in McCain's honor, but back at full-staff on Monday. Trump ignored reporters' repeated questions about McCain at White House gatherings on Monday, but late Monday afternoon the flags were lowered again to half-staff.
But U.S. President Donald Trump, who frequently engaged in political taunts with McCain and three years ago said McCain was only deemed a hero because he was captured as a POW, was criticized after his initial reactions to McCain's death only expressed condolences to his family and didn't mention his military service or political career.
The White House, according to a Washington Post report Monday, prepared a statement extolling McCain's life and calling him a hero, but Trump rejected issuing it.
Flags at the White House were lowered to half-staff over the weekend in McCain's honor, but back at full-staff on Monday. Trump ignored reporters' repeated questions about McCain at White House gatherings on Monday, but late Monday afternoon the flags were lowered again to half-staff.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/08/27/mccain-spokesman-rick-davis-trump-reaction-not-focus-john-mccain-family/1113280002/
Denise Rohan, national commander of the American Legion, blasted Trump's snub in a public letter addressed to Trump Monday. She noted McCain survived 5½ years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.
"On the behalf of the American Legions two million wartime veterans, I strongly urge you to make an appropriate presidential proclamation noting Senator McCains death and legacy of service to our nation, and that our nations flag be half-staffed through his interment," Rohan wrote
Trump also reportedly rejected sending out a statement praising McCain, opting instead to write a short tweet.
"On the behalf of the American Legions two million wartime veterans, I strongly urge you to make an appropriate presidential proclamation noting Senator McCains death and legacy of service to our nation, and that our nations flag be half-staffed through his interment," Rohan wrote
Trump also reportedly rejected sending out a statement praising McCain, opting instead to write a short tweet.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/01/trump-mccain-memorial-response-reaction-806113
As Washington mourned McCain, Trumps people grew angry. Some even hoped for but didnt get a blistering tweet from the president. And they privately chastised Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Trumps daughter and son-in-law, for attending the senators memorial service. @realDonaldTrump ran for @POTUS ONE time and WON, tweeted Katrina Pierson, an adviser to Trumps campaign. Some people will never recover from that.
On Saturday, Trumps allies groused about Kushner and Ivanka Trumps presence at an event that portrayed the president in such a negative light, with one person calling their attendance a huge mistake. Another complained that they had been seated too far back in the church.
It was a very nice gesture by Jared and Ivanka to attend, said Sam Nunberg. I find it contemptible that the McCain family couldnt seat them in a better, more respectable section.
On Saturday, Trumps allies groused about Kushner and Ivanka Trumps presence at an event that portrayed the president in such a negative light, with one person calling their attendance a huge mistake. Another complained that they had been seated too far back in the church.
It was a very nice gesture by Jared and Ivanka to attend, said Sam Nunberg. I find it contemptible that the McCain family couldnt seat them in a better, more respectable section.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bob-schieffer-on-trumps-response-to-mccains-death-this-was-making-a-mockery-of-one-of-our-most-solemn-tributes/
Former "Face the Nation" moderator Bob Schieffer is weighing in on the White House's decision to raise the American flag from half-staff just two days after the death of Sen. John McCain.
The flag had been lowered to half-staff Sunday but then raised again Monday morning, even as the nation continued to mourn McCain's death. Late Monday, the flag was lowered once again, and President Trump issued a statement saying he respected McCain's "service to our country."
"To me, this was making a mockery of one of our most solemn tributes to our finest people," Schieffer told CBS News' Norah O'Donnell on Monday's "CBS Evening News." "I've never seen in all my years in Washington this kind of thing, where the American Legion has to write the president and demand they lower the flag to half-staff, where both Senate leaders asked that he lower the flag to half-staff. How does this come about? I don't know."
The flag had been lowered to half-staff Sunday but then raised again Monday morning, even as the nation continued to mourn McCain's death. Late Monday, the flag was lowered once again, and President Trump issued a statement saying he respected McCain's "service to our country."
"To me, this was making a mockery of one of our most solemn tributes to our finest people," Schieffer told CBS News' Norah O'Donnell on Monday's "CBS Evening News." "I've never seen in all my years in Washington this kind of thing, where the American Legion has to write the president and demand they lower the flag to half-staff, where both Senate leaders asked that he lower the flag to half-staff. How does this come about? I don't know."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/20/politics/john-mccain-thank-you-funeral-donald-trump
President Donald Trump complained Wednesday that he didnt receive a thank you for approving the funeral the late Sen. John McCain wanted, marking his latest grievance in his recent onslaught against the Arizona Republican.
I endorsed him at his request, and I gave him the kind of funeral that he wanted, which as President I had to approve. I dont care about this. I didnt get thank you. Thats OK. We sent him on the way. But I wasnt a fan of John McCain, Trump said during a speech Wednesday at a tank factory in Lima, Ohio.
Last weekend, Trump attacked McCain in several tweets that targeted his ties to the controversial Russia dossier and his vote against repealing Obamacare. He also referred to McCain as being last in his class at the US Naval Academy.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/19/politics/cindy-mccain-hateful-message-stranger/index.html
Cindy McCain, the widow of Sen. John McCain, posted a hateful message she received from a stranger the same day President Donald Trump disparaged her late husband.
McCain posted a photo of the private message on Twitter and wrote, I want to make sure all of you could see how kind and loving a stranger can be. Im posting her note for her family and friends could see.
The message said the sender was glad the late Arizona Republican is dead, and called him a traitorous piece of warmongering s***. The message also attacked her daughter, Meghan McCain, criticizing her appearance and saying she hopes she chokes to death.
McCain posted a photo of the private message on Twitter and wrote, I want to make sure all of you could see how kind and loving a stranger can be. Im posting her note for her family and friends could see.
The message said the sender was glad the late Arizona Republican is dead, and called him a traitorous piece of warmongering s***. The message also attacked her daughter, Meghan McCain, criticizing her appearance and saying she hopes she chokes to death.
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Flashback: Donald Trump & MAGA's reaction when John McCain died (Original Post)
Wiz Imp
Sep 14
OP
PCIntern
(27,650 posts)1. It is rather fascinating...
Many years ago, before McCain ran against Obama, this far right patient of mine told me why they hated McCain so much. It had to do supposedly with his failure to leave the prisoner of war camp when he was allowed to in order that he could report back as to the conditions there to his superiors. This guy told me that as much as they despised Clinton who was president at the time they hated McCain even more because at least Clinton wasnt a hypocrite and unfaithful to the code of Republicanism.
I remember distinctly asking him what McCain was so bad for Republicans for since he seemed to bridge a certain divide and he gave me that usual gabble degook that you get from these assholes about anything and everything.
underpants
(193,279 posts)2. Trump and his spawn (Jr) after the attack on Paul Pelosi