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| John McCain: White House urged to lower flags for senator | John McCain: White House urged to lower flags for senator |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US senators have issued a bipartisan call to lower American flags in honour of John McCain after the White House raised its Stars and Stripes back up. | US senators have issued a bipartisan call to lower American flags in honour of John McCain after the White House raised its Stars and Stripes back up. |
| Top Democrat Chuck Schumer and top Republican Mitch McConnell said flags on all government buildings should be at half-staff for the late senator. | Top Democrat Chuck Schumer and top Republican Mitch McConnell said flags on all government buildings should be at half-staff for the late senator. |
| President Donald Trump has long feuded with McCain, and is reportedly not invited to his funeral. | President Donald Trump has long feuded with McCain, and is reportedly not invited to his funeral. |
| The Arizona Republican died on Saturday of brain cancer. | The Arizona Republican died on Saturday of brain cancer. |
| President Trump ordered the flags to fly at half-staff on Saturday evening. | President Trump ordered the flags to fly at half-staff on Saturday evening. |
| But they were flying at full-staff by Monday morning, even as the flags at the US Capitol remained at half-staff. | But they were flying at full-staff by Monday morning, even as the flags at the US Capitol remained at half-staff. |
| Some said the White House was simply following proper procedure because US Flag Code states that flags be lowered "on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress". | Some said the White House was simply following proper procedure because US Flag Code states that flags be lowered "on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress". |
| However, others pointed out it is traditional to keep flags lowered to honour lawmakers and major public figures until their funerals. | However, others pointed out it is traditional to keep flags lowered to honour lawmakers and major public figures until their funerals. |
| On Monday, Mr Schumer and Mr McConnell asked for the flags to remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of McCain's funeral on Saturday. | |
| The White House issued no formal statement over the weekend about McCain's death, though one was drafted, according to US media. | |
| Instead, both the president and Vice-President Mike Pence offered their condolences to the senator's family via Twitter. | |
| Critics have questioned why Mr Trump has not issued a presidential proclamation to lower the flags, as previous presidents have done for major political figures. | |
| President Barack Obama ordered flags at the White House be flown at half-staff for nearly five days after Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts died in 2009. | |
| And Mr Trump himself issued flag flying proclamations following mass shootings in Las Vegas and Parkland, Florida. | |
| He also had the flags lowered when former First Lady Barbara Bush died until she was buried. | |
| Since taking office, the enmity between the president and McCain has been well documented. | |
| Earlier this month, when he signed a multi-billion dollar defence bill named after McCain, Mr Trump did not say his name. |