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