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White House flags should have been at half-staff for a week to honor John McCain. They're already back up.
President Trump was restrained in his condolences for the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) — and the White House itself was no different.
The White House lowered its flags to half-staff over the weekend, after McCain died Saturday. But on Monday morning, the flags were flying high once more, ABC News reports.
Presidential protocol says that Trump should have issued a proclamation regarding McCain's death, reports NBC News, and traditionally, White House flags would have remained lowered until the senator is buried. McCain is set to be interred Sunday in Maryland.
Instead of a formal statement, Trump simply tweeted his "deepest sympathies" for McCain's family, writing that "our hearts and prayers are with you." The Washington Post reported that Trump even vetoed the idea of releasing a warmer statement that would have praised the senator. The White House, too, opted not to get sentimental, tweeting a straightforward image of McCain that included his date of birth and the date of his death. Summer Meza
Update 4:05 p.m. ET: The White House lowered the flag to half-staff once again, CNN's Jim Acosta reported.