President Trump issued a formal statement Monday, two days after the death of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to recognize the senator’s service and to order all flags to be flown at half-staff until his burial.
“Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Sen. John McCain’s service to our country and, in his honor, have signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff until the day of his interment,” Trump said in his statement.
Trump faced a wave of criticism Monday morning when the White House flag was flown at full-staff, instead of being left at half-staff until McCain’s burial. But the White House lowered the flags back to half-staff in honor of McCain on Monday afternoon.
Trump was also criticized for failing to release a statement on McCain on Saturday, when his death was announced. Trump posted a brief tweet immediately following news of the senator’s death expressing sympathies to the McCain family, but according to the Washington Post, he rejected the advice of his aides who pushed Trump to release an official statement praising McCain for his service to the country and calling him a “hero.”
Trump’s statement said he asked Vice President Mike Pence to “offer an address” at Friday’s ceremony at the Capitol honoring McCain, and authorized military transportation of McCain’s remains from Arizona to D.C. Trump himself was not expected to attend McCain’s service, and McCain reportedly told his family he did not want Trump invited.
McCain’s service at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., will feature military pallbearers and band support, and a horse and caisson transport, Trump said in his statement.
White House chief of staff John Kelly, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, and national security adviser John Bolton were asked by Trump to attend McCain’s services as representatives of the administration, the president said.
Trump also issued Monday a presidential proclamation calling for the flags at the White House, government buildings, and military facilities across the country to be lowered “as a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding service” of McCain.
The president and McCain have had a contentious relationship since the 2016 presidential campaign.
After the senator criticized then-candidate Trump, Trump belittled McCain’s military service by saying the senator was “not a war hero.”
Trump has kept up his criticism of McCain, including by noting McCain’s vote against the Republican bill to repeal Obamacare.
McCain, who was diagnosed with brain cancer last year, will lie in state at the Arizona Capitol on Wednesday and on Thursday, and a memorial service will be held at the North Phoenix Baptist Church. Former Vice President Joe Biden will deliver remarks during Thursday’s ceremony.
McCain will then lie in state at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, and a memorial service will be held at the Washington National Cathedral on Saturday. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama are expected to deliver remarks at the National Cathedral.
A private memorial service will take place Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel, followed by a private burial ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery.
