Leftists have weaponized, unfortunately, Sen. John McCain’s passing and have been doing all they can to use the event as ammunition against President Donald Trump.
Some people used the services for McCain over the past week as an opportunity to attack Trump, and now talking heads are going after the president for — as they see it — having an unsatisfactory response to the passing of the late senator.
Liberal commentator Philippe Reines, the former deputy assistant secretary of state for strategic communications under Hillary Clinton, is among those critics. Appearing Sunday morning on Fox News’ “Media Buzz,” Reines blasted Trump for his handling of McCain toward the end of the senator’s life.
“The man is dead,” Reines said. “This stuff is silly.”
He added, “If you’re gonna bite your tongue, which Donald Trump is unable to do, do it one week.”
It’s unclear what exactly Reines was referring to in his Trump criticism — since the president has been relatively silent about McCain’s passing.
For all intents and purposes, the president has been biting his tongue, which many would argue is the best move for him, as he and McCain had a controversial history together.
Host Howard Kurtz and others pointed out to Reines that Trump has been “radio silent” — and that the flag at the White House was lowered in honor of the late senator and Vietnam veteran, though some felt it was raised to full staff far too quickly.
While running for president, Donald Trump made light of McCain’s time as a prisoner of war several times.
While it’s not something all of his supporters could get behind, it seemed the president made the appropriate decision to stay relatively silent this past week following McCain’s passing.
While many others have used the late senator’s passing as a platform to push their own views and agenda, Trump has chosen not to steal the spotlight or to make the tragic event about himself in any way.
Despite the constant hammering from the media for not praising McCain enough, Trump did release a statement following the senator’s death.
“Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Senator John McCain’s service to our country and, in his honor, have signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff until the day of his interment,” said the statement.
It continued, “At the request of the McCain family, I have also authorized military transportation of Sen. McCain’s remains from Arizona to Washington, D.C., military pallbearers and band support, and a horse and caisson transport during the service at the United States Naval Academy.”
Multiple people from the administration, including Gen. John Kelly and Secretary of Defense James Mattis, attended McCain’s funeral. First daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner were also in attendance.
Watch the exchange from “Media Buzz” on Fox News below:
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