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John McCain: Trump not attending late senator's funeral John McCain death: Trump lowers White House flag after criticism
(about 4 hours later)
US President Donald Trump will not attend the funeral of his political antagonist John McCain, a spokesman for the late senator has said. US President Donald Trump has announced that the White House flag will be returned to half-staff, after critics attacked his response to the death of Republican senator John McCain.
"The president will not be, as far as we know, attending the funeral," said McCain family friend Rick Davis. "That's just a fact." Flags at some federal buildings were fully raised on Monday, far earlier than would normally be expected after such an event.
Mr Davis read out a posthumous message from McCain that appeared to take a thinly veiled dig at Mr Trump. Mr Trump tweeted his condolences to the McCain family, but has not offered a tribute to the veteran's life.
In the message, McCain urged Americans not to "hide behind walls". The pair had a fractious relationship.
The Arizona Republican died on Saturday of brain cancer. Mr Trump appeared to repeatedly ignore media questions about the flag before announcing that it would be lowered again.
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. He said in a statement: "Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Senator John McCain's service to our country and, in his honour, have signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff until the day of his interment."
"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. He also confirmed reports he will not attend McCain's funeral next weekend.
"We weaken it when he hide behind walls rather than tear them down." The statement said other members of the Trump administration, including his chief of staff and secretary of defence, will attend instead.
In his posthumous letter, McCain also told his fellow Americans: "Do not despair of our present difficulties." Former Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama will pay tribute to McCain during his funeral ceremony on Saturday at the National Cathedral.
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 also address a service in McCain's honour at the capitol on Friday.
Vice-President Mike Pence will attend on behalf of the Trump administration. What did McCain's posthumous message say?
Mr Trump and Mr McCain are both Republicans, but the two have long feuded. Earlier on Monday, before the flag U-turn, McCain family friend Rick Davis read out a posthumous message prepared by the senator before his death from brain cancer on Saturday.
Earlier on Monday, the White House was urged by senators of both parties to lower its US flags in honour of McCain. Parts of it could be interpreted as taking aim at President Trump's policies.
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. It urged the nation not to "hide behind walls" and said the American people are "a nation of ideals, not blood and soil".
President Trump ordered the flags to fly at half-staff on Saturday evening, but by Monday they were back at full-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," McCain had said.
Flags at the US Capitol and other Washington DC federal landmarks remained at half-staff. "We weaken it when we hide behind walls rather than tear them down."
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". McCain also told his country folk: "Do not despair of our present difficulties, but believe always in the promise and greatness of America".
However, others pointed out it is traditional to keep flags lowered to honour lawmakers and major public figures until their funerals. Who complained about the White House flag?
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. Traditionally, the death of somebody of McCain's stature would see flags flying at half-staff until their burial.
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 was urged by senators of both parties to honour that protocol, and critics asked why a proclamation had not been issued as it was after the deaths of other political figures, such as former First Lady Barbara Bush.
Senior Democrat Chuck Schumer and top Republican Mitch McConnell said the flags on all government buildings should be at half-staff for the late senator until his burial next Sunday.
Flags at the US Capitol and other Washington landmarks remained at half-staff earlier on Monday, but the White House had returned to its usual levels.
Some said the White House was simply following proper procedure, however, because US Flag Code states that flags be lowered "on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress".
Why was there no Trump statement?
The rather sparing statement on Monday was the first from the White House to reference McCain's death.
None were issued over the weekend, 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. The antipathy between the president and McCain has been well documented since Mr Trump took office.
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. Earlier this month, when he signed a multi-billion dollar defence bill named after McCain, the president did not say his name.
Mr Trump issued proclamations to lower flags following mass shootings in Las Vegas and Parkland, Florida. 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.
He also had the flags lowered from when former First Lady Barbara Bush died until her funeral. He will then be laid to rest on Sunday in a private ceremony at the US Naval Academy chapel.
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.
McCain will be laid to rest on Sunday in a private ceremony at the US Naval Academy chapel.