After the news emerged of Arizona Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) death over the weekend, President Donald Trump sent out a tweet about it that sent many people into a flurry of criticism against the president.
It was not a personal tweet about the man.
Nor did it comment at all on McCain’s outstanding bravery and patriotism over the course of his fascinating and full life — one in which he dedicated literally decades of his life to the service of this country.
It was — well, way more boilerplate.
Trump wrote this on August 25: “My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!”
My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018
Trump and McCain, of course, did not get along well at all, especially in recent years.
Back in 2015, Trump famously said that McCain was not a “war hero” because he was captured during the Vietnam War.
It was July 2015, and Trump was speaking at a Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa.
“He’s not a war hero,” Trump said at the time. “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”
People booed at the time — and many have continued to boo ever since over that.
McCain, a Navy lieutenant commander at the time of his capture, spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war after his Skyhawk warplane was shot down over Hanoi in 1967.
He spent two of those years in solitary confinement — and, as has been well-documented, he was tortured by his captors.
Related: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of John McCain
McCain, ever since Trump was elected, had been an outspoken critic of the president. It emerged recently that McCain did not want Trump to attend his funeral — and even when McCain said recently he was discontinuing his treatment for brain cancer, Trump did not comment, as Mediaite and others noted.
Those close to the American war hero, who died Saturday afternoon after a fierce battle with glioblastoma, informed the White House that their plan was to invite Vice President Mike Pence to attend the memorial service, to be held at Washington’s National Cathedral — but not Trump, as The New York Times originally reported back in May.
Related: McCain’s Confidential Request Made Public — Trump Banned from Funeral
So Trump’s “bland” tweet about McCain’s death has been OK with many people across the country — both everyday people and those in the media spotlight.
Brit Hume (shown above, left), senior political analyst at Fox News, tweeted this over the weekend: “Still not a kind word about McCain himself.”
Still not a kind word about McCain himself. https://t.co/kKflh8Iq33
— Brit Hume (@brithume) August 26, 2018
As a result of that tweet, some others chimed in with their own opinions:
I prefer Trump to just not say anything lest it be an empty sentiment considering the animosity between them.
— d$ (@davedollar) August 27, 2018
I have been your fan. Now am extremely disappointed … what possible good did your tweet serve other than to give insight into your real political persuasions. Now I know the rest of the story! SAD.
— Bratton Cupo (@brattoncupo8p) August 27, 2018
He doesn’t owe him that, Brit. This was a very gracious tweet in light of McCain’s outright hatred for Trump.
— Missi Wimberly (@missiwimberly) August 27, 2018
And naturally, there was this comment on Monday morning: “The awkward relationship between John McCain and Donald Trump continues even after McCain’s death,” noted The Washington Post.
Meanwhile, details about Sen. McCain’s memorial and service have been made public.
The senator’s own website announced that between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., the public is invited to pay respects and honor McCain’s life and service on Wednesday, August 29, at the Arizona State Capitol. For those unable to attend, there will be a livestream of the viewing.
Then, on Thursday, August 30, there will be a memorial service to celebrate the senator’s life at the North Phoenix Baptist Church (invitations are required — check the website for details).
And a ceremony will be held Friday, August 31, at the United States Capitol — there, McCain will be honored by his family, colleagues, staff, and the public for his life and service, according to ABC13.
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