The senator likely to succeed John McCain as head of the Armed Services Committee in the upper chamber says the deceased lawmaker is ‘partially to blame’ for a feud with the president that’s continued even in death.
Sen. James Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, told reporters Monday that McCain and President Trump were both ‘strong willed people’ and it caused them to clash.
He declined to get in the middle of a fight that escalated years ago when Trump said that McCain was not a true ‘war hero’ because he was ‘captured,’ calling it ‘their thing’ and praising the late senator’s service.
Inhofe also said, according to CNN and other news outlets, ‘Well, you know, frankly, I think that John McCain is partially to blame for that because he is very outspoken. He disagreed with the president in certain areas and wasn’t too courteous about it.’
The senator likely to succeed John McCain as head of the Armed Services Committee, Oklahoma’s James Inhofe (left), says the deceased lawmaker is ‘partially to blame’ for a feud with the president that’s continued even in death
The fight between Donald Trump and John McCain began with the Arizona senator chiding the political novice in 2015 for calling Mexicans ‘rapists’ in his announcement speech. Trump hit back in the senator’s home state and said that with the right opponent, McCain, up for reelection at the time, could lose. He also called McCain ‘weak’ on immigration.
McCain said the performance was ‘hurtful’ and Trump ‘fired up the crazies.’
From there, the relationship went downhill, with Trump branding McCain a ‘dummy’ over the remarks and saying he likes ‘people that weren’t captured.’
McCain’s final words, revealed Monday in Arizona, included a rebuke to Trump and his ideas. The departed cautioned that America is weakened ‘when we hide behind walls,’ touching on the genesis of his dispute with the fellow Republican.
A decorated veteran and six-term senator, McCain in a letter to America spoke of his love of country and his gratitude to his family and his nation.
In his talk of patriotism were also words of warning about embracing political views associated with the sitting president.
‘We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe,’ McCain’s statement said. ‘We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been.’
Sen. John McCain’s last words included a rebuke to President Trump over his border wall
The senator died Saturday at the age of 81 after a long battle with brain cancer. He will lie in state at the Arizona Capitol on Wednesday before his body is transported to Washington for additional funeral and memorial services.
His longtime aide Rick Davis shared the senator’s letter on Monday, choking up at several points as he read aloud McCain’s final plea to his country.
‘I lived and died a proud American. We are citizens of the world’s greatest republic, a nation of ideals, not blood and soil,’ Davis read. ‘Like most people, I have regrets. But I would not trade a day of my life, in good or bad times, for the best day of anyone else’s.’
McCain also noted: ‘We are three-hundred-and-twenty-five million opinionated, vociferous individuals. We argue and compete and sometimes even vilify each other in our raucous public debates.’
‘But we have always had so much more in common with each other than in disagreement. If only we remember that and give each other the benefit of the presumption that we all love our country we will get through these challenging times. We will come through them stronger than before. We always do.’
Longtime McCain aide Rick Davis choked up when he read McCain’s final words on Monday from Arizona
He concluded: ‘Do not despair of our present difficulties but believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.’
Davis, before he began reading McCain’s letter, warned: ”This will be somewhat difficult.’
McCain’s final words came as Trump, for the second time on Monday, declined to answer questions about his thoughts on the senator’s legacy.
The president was touting a new trade deal between the United States and Mexico in the Oval Office when he was asked about the late senator’s legacy. And he was asked again later in the day when he welcomed the president of Kenya to the White House.
Trump was also criticized for not releasing a formal proclamation in the wake of the senator’s death – as is traditional when a notable citizen dies.
The president instead issued a tweet offering prayers to the senator’s family.
Additionally, the flag at the White House was at full staff on Monday after being half staff on Sunday.
The president later issued a proclamation that will keep it down until McCain’s interment, as is customary for the nation’s political giants, and shared his condolences in public.
‘Our hearts and prayers are going to the family of Senator John McCain. There’s going to be a lot of activity over the next number of days. And we very much appreciate everything that Senator McCain has done for our country. So thank you very much,’ he said after bragging about his policies’ effect on global stock prices.
Twice on Monday President Trump declined to answer questions on McCain’s legacy
Davis declined on Monday answer any question’s about the flag or Trump’s response to McCain’s death at his media event.
‘The entire focus of McCain family is on John McCain. There really is no room in the McCain family today to focus on anything but him,’ Davis said. ‘I think any discussion of what any one individual has done or said, if you look at the gravity of all he reactions around the world – world leaders our allies – it’s been immense. They choose to focus on that.’
Davis, who worked on both of McCain’s presidential campaigns, also offered a detailed schedule for McCain’s memorial services and burial.
He said Trump will not be attending the memorial service at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
‘The president will not be, as far as we know, attending,’ he said.
McCain will be honored in Phoenix, Arizona, on Wednesday, which will be his 82nd birthday.
‘Only John McCain could rig a big birthday celebration like this,’ Davis said.
John McCain (pictured December 2017) passed away after a battle with brain cancer
There will be a memorial service for him on Thursday at the North Phoenix Baptist Church.
At that service, Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona will give a benediction. And former Vice President Joe Biden will give a tribute.
There will be a bag piper as “John loves bag pipe music,” Davis said.
Additionally, McCain’s adopted daughter Bridget McCain will give a reading as will Andy McCain, his son from his first marriage.
After the ceremony, the Arizona National Guard will act as honor guard during a dignified transfer of remains ceremony, during which McCain’s casket will be taken aboard a presidential air lift and flown to Washington D.C.
McCain will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol building on Friday where lawmakers will hold a ceremony in his honor.
The flag is flying full staff at the White House on Monday – one day after it was lowered in tribute to the late Senator John McCain
The flag was lowed on Sunday
Vice President Mike Pence will be the administration’s representative at that event and will lay a wreath.
House Speaker Paul Ryan will lay a House wreath and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer will lay a Senate wreath.
On Saturday, the McCain family will gather at the Capitol and escort McCain’s remains to the Vietnam War Memorial. There, Cindy McCain and the family will lay a wreath.
McCain’s funeral will take place at the National Cathedral with his daughter Megan giving the first tribute.
She will be followed by former Sen. Joe Lieberman, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former President George W. Bush, and former President Barack Obama.
Readings will be done by two of McCain’s closest friends in the Senate: Sen. Lindsay Graham and former Sen. Kelly Ayotte.
Musical selections will include The Navy Hymn, The Battle Hymn of the Republic and American the Beautiful sung by the Cathedral Choir and Navy Choir.
Additionally, as specifically requested by McCain, who had worked on his funeral arrangements in the year before his death, “Danny Boy” will be sung by opera star Renee Fleming.
He will be buried on Sunday in a private ceremony at Hospital Hill at the U.S. Naval Academy surrounded by his family, friends and his fellow naval academy classmates from the Class of ’58.