Acting defense secretary denies knowing of efforts to hide USS John McCain from Trump
Acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan told reporters in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday that when he read about White House attempts to hide the USS John S. McCain from President Trump during Trump's Japan trip, "it was the first I heard about it." The Wall Street Journal, which broke the story, reported that Shanahan had been aware of the request, highlighted in an email to Navy and Air Force personnel.
"I never authorized, I never approved any action around the movement or activities regarding that ship," Shanahan said, adding that he "would never dishonor the memory of a great American patriot like Sen. McCain" and will ask his chief of staff to look into the reports. Several White House and military officials have confirmed that the White House wanted the USS John McCain at least hidden from photos while Trump was in Japan, but some are pushing back on certain details.
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.
Two Navy sailors tell the Times that the McCain crew was the only one of about 20 ships not invited to hear Trump speak. One Yokosuka-based Navy service member added that "when several sailors from the McCain showed up anyway, wearing their uniforms with the ship's insignia, they were turned away," the Times reports. Sailors wearing round patches with Trump's image and "Make Airmen Great Again" were allowed in to hear Trump speak.
-
Tourangelle-style pork with prunes recipeThe Week Recommends This traditional, rustic dish is a French classic
-
The Epstein files: glimpses of a deeply disturbing worldIn the Spotlight Trove of released documents paint a picture of depravity and privilege in which men hold the cards, and women are powerless or peripheral
-
Jeff Bezos: cutting the legs off The Washington PostIn the Spotlight A stalwart of American journalism is a shadow of itself after swingeing cuts by its billionaire owner
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
-
El Paso airspace closure tied to FAA-Pentagon standoffSpeed Read The closure in the Texas border city stemmed from disagreements between the Federal Aviation Administration and Pentagon officials over drone-related tests
-
Judge blocks Trump suit for Michigan voter rollsSpeed Read A Trump-appointed federal judge rejected the administration’s demand for voters’ personal data
-
US to send 200 troops to Nigeria to train armySpeed Read Trump has accused the West African government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks
-
Grand jury rejects charging 6 Democrats for ‘orders’ videoSpeed Read The jury refused to indict Democratic lawmakers for a video in which they urged military members to resist illegal orders
