White House officials moved a U.S. flag atop the building to half-staff Monday afternoon after President Trump drew widespread criticism for quickly returning it to full-staff following the death of Arizona Sen. John McCain.
Trump came under fire early Monday morning after reporters entering the White House complex noticed the flag was once again flying at full-staff, even as the banners surrounding the Washington Monument and other government buildings remained lowered.
Federal code orders the flag to be flown at half-staff on the day of death and the following day when a member of Congress has passed, though previous presidents have often chosen to keep the flag lowered for an extended period of time.
Trump, who declined to answer questions about the flag earlier Monday, issued a statement shortly after its lowering.
“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.
McCain, a two-time Republican presidential candidate and Vietnam War veteran, died Saturday after a year-long battle with brain cancer. He frequently drew the ire of Trump, who infamously questioned if McCain deserved his war-hero status “because he was captured.”
The late senator requested before his death that Trump not attend his funeral, where former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush will deliver eulogies. The administration will thus be represented by White House chief of staff John Kelly, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, and national security adviser John Bolton.
McCain will be laid to rest later this week at the Naval Academy Center in Annapolis, Maryland.
