The White House wanted the USS John McCain hidden from Trump's view during Japan visit

last updated 30 May 2019

White House officials planning President Trump's visit to Japan had a request for the U.S. Navy: "USS John McCain needs to be out of sight," according to an email reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Hiding the warship — now named for the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and his father and grandfather, both admirals — was the third item on a list of White House directives relayed to Navy and Air Force officials, the Journal reports. "Please confirm #3 will be satisfied," the email added.

Navy officials, apparently taken aback by the request, tried various ways to comply. Moving the USS John McCain, being repaired after a fatal 2017 collision, wasn't an option, so tarps were draped over the ship's name, the Journal reports, with photos. The ship's crew, whose uniforms say USS John McCain, was given the day off and not invited to Trump's speech Tuesday aboard the nearby USS Wasp. After the tarps were removed Saturday, a barge was then moved into place to obscure the name, the Journal reports.

A senior White House official confirmed to The Washington Post that they did not want McCain's name seen in photographs, the goal being to keep Trump from being upset, but said Trump was not involved in the planning. "When senior Navy officials grasped what was happening, they directed Navy personnel who were present to stop," a senior Navy official told the Post. The Journal says acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan was aware of the White House's concerns and approved of the Navy's efforts to comply.

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Journal reporter Rebecca Ballhaus ran through some more details on CNN Wednesday night.

McCain's daughter Meghan McCain responded to the report by calling Trump "a child who will always be deeply threatened by the greatness of my dad's incredible life." Trump tweeted: "I was not informed about anything having to do with the Navy Ship USS John S. McCain during my recent visit to Japan."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.