Ivanka Trump called the late Sen. John McCain a “true hero” on Monday, even as President Trump continued to stay silent about his political rival.
“I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Sen. John McCain, an American patriot who served our country with distinction for more than six decades. The nation is united in its grief and the world mourns the loss of a true hero and a great statesman,” the president’s daughter and White House adviser said in remarks to the Organization of American States.
Ivanka Trump: “I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Sen. John McCain, an American patriot who served our country with distinction for more than six decades. The nation is united in its grief and the world mourns the loss of a true hero” https://t.co/CWS3ByNTaA pic.twitter.com/cD6bcLxabb
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 27, 2018
Top White House aides, including press secretary Sarah Sanders and chief of staff John Kelly, pushed Trump to release a statement over the weekend that praised the heroism and life of McCain, but Trump said he wanted to post a tweet instead, the Washington Post reported.
“My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018
And on Monday, Trump declined to answer several shouted questions about McCain, and sat silently.
Trump has yet to comment further on McCain, whom he once said was “not a war hero” because the Arizona senator had been captured and tortured in Vietnam for years.
“I like people that weren’t captured,” Trump said in 2015.
