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John McCain: White House urged to lower flags for senator John McCain: Trump not attending late senator's funeral
(about 2 hours 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 President Donald Trump will not attend the funeral of his political antagonist John McCain, a spokesman for the late senator has said.
Top Democrat Chuck Schumer and top Republican Mitch McConnell said flags on all government buildings should be at half-staff for the late senator. "The president will not be, as far as we know, attending the funeral," said McCain family friend Rick Davis. "That's just a fact."
President Donald Trump has long feuded with McCain, and is reportedly not invited to his funeral. Mr Davis read out a posthumous message from McCain that appeared to take a thinly veiled dig at Mr Trump.
In the message, McCain urged Americans not to "hide behind walls".
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. The American people are "a nation of ideals, not blood and soil," Mr Davis said as he read from McCain's letter on Monday at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.
But they were flying at full-staff by Monday morning, even as the flags at the US Capitol remained at half-staff. "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," he continued.
"We weaken it when he hide behind walls rather than tear them down."
In his posthumous letter, McCain also told his fellow Americans: "Do not despair of our present difficulties."
Mr Davis confirmed that former Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama will pay tribute to McCain during his funeral ceremony on Saturday at the National Cathedral.
Vice-President Mike Pence will attend on behalf of the Trump administration.
Mr Trump and Mr McCain are both Republicans, but the two have long feuded.
Earlier on Monday, the White House was urged by senators of both parties to lower its US flags in honour of McCain.
Top Democrat Chuck Schumer and top Republican Mitch McConnell said flags on all government buildings should be at half-staff for the late senator until his burial this Sunday.
President Trump ordered the flags to fly at half-staff on Saturday evening, but by Monday they were back at full-staff.
Flags at the US Capitol and other Washington DC federal landmarks 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 burial on Sunday.
Mr McCain's body will lie in state in the Arizona State Capitol on Wednesday and at the US Capitol Rotunda on Friday, giving his colleagues and the public a chance to pay their respects.Mr McCain's body will lie in state in the Arizona State Capitol on Wednesday and at the US Capitol Rotunda on Friday, giving his colleagues and the public a chance to pay their respects.
His funeral ceremony will take place on Saturday at the National Cathedral, where former Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama are expected to deliver eulogies.
Vice-President Mike Pence will reportedly attend on behalf of the Trump administration.
The White House issued no formal statement over the weekend about McCain's death, though one was drafted, according to US media.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 offered their condolences to the senator's family via Twitter.Instead, both the president and vice-president 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.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 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.President 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. Mr Trump issued proclamations to lower flags 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. He also had the flags lowered from when former First Lady Barbara Bush died until her funeral.
Since taking office, the enmity between the president and McCain has been well documented. Since taking office, the antipathy 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.Earlier this month, when he signed a multi-billion dollar defence bill named after McCain, Mr Trump did not say his name.
McCain will be buried on Sunday in a private ceremony at the US Naval Academy chapel. McCain will be laid to rest on Sunday in a private ceremony at the US Naval Academy chapel.
He will be buried beside his friend and fellow Naval Academy classmate Admiral Chuck Larson.