Trump finally issues a non-tweet statement about John McCain
Following backlash from veterans' groups, President Trump on Monday issued an official proclamation and statement regarding the death of Sen. John McCain.
Trump was criticized for being uncharacteristically quiet following a brief tweet Saturday. While Trump's tweet offered sympathies to McCain's family, it offered no praise for the longtime Arizona senator, nor did an official statement follow to recognize his death. The White House flags were lowered to half-staff for a day and a half, though protocol dictated that they remain lowered until McCain's interment Sunday.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Sen. John McCain's service to our country," read the official statement from Trump. Trump said that he had asked Vice President Mike Pence to speak at McCain's ceremony at the Capitol on Friday and for other top officials to attend his services, to which Trump was not invited.
In a proclamation, Trump officially directed that the White House flags be lowered once again, "as a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding service" of McCain. He also instructed U.S. embassies and military posts to lower the flags.
-
The biggest astronomy stories of 2025In the spotlight From moons, to comets, to pop stars in orbit
-
The 8 best comedy movies of 2025the week recommends Filmmakers find laughs in both familiar set-ups and hopeless places
-
‘Care fractures after birth’instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Bari Weiss’ ‘60 Minutes’ scandal is about more than one reportIN THE SPOTLIGHT By blocking an approved segment on a controversial prison holding US deportees in El Salvador, the editor-in-chief of CBS News has become the main story
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
-
House GOP revolt forces vote on ACA subsidiesSpeed Read The new health care bill would lower some costs but not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
-
Hegseth rejects release of full boat strike footageSpeed Read There are calls to release video of the military killing two survivors of a Sept. 2 missile strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat
-
Trump vows naval blockade of most Venezuelan oilSpeed Read The announcement further escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro
