President Trump Responds to John McCain's Death - 'My Deepest Sympathies...'
As news spread Saturday about the death of Arizona Sen. John McCain and tributes poured in, one very public political rivalry was put aside in a very solemn way.
In a tweet released shortly after the death of the lawmaker and war hero was announced, President Donald Trump expressed condolences to the McCain family and paid his respects.
“My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain,” Trump wrote in the tweet.
“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
The president had not previously acknowledged the deteriorating condition of McCain, whose family announced Friday he was ending medical treatment.
Trump’s re-election campaign also released a statement Saturday night regarding the death of McCain, according to CNN.
“All of us at the Trump Campaign offer our sincere condolences to the family of Senator John McCain following his passing this evening,” the statement read.
“We encourage all Americans to take the opportunity to remember Senator McCain and his family in their prayers on this sad occasion.”
The flag at the White House was also lowered to half-staff.
This evening, the @WhiteHouse flag has been lowered to half-staff in honor of Senator John McCain… pic.twitter.com/tYdBNK9bA7
— Dan Scavino Jr. Archived (@Scavino45) August 26, 2018
Vice President Mike Pence also expressed condolences, particularly citing McCain’s widow, Cindy.
Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain.
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) August 26, 2018
“Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain,” Pence wrote.
“We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain.”
It wasn’t any secret that Trump and McCain weren’t the best of friends. Their rivalry was bookended with a comment candidate Trump made about McCain’s prisoner-of-war status and McCain’s final book, in which he chastised the president’s foreign policy, as well as requested the president not attend his funeral.
In between, McCain was seen as obstructionist on many administration policies.
Politics can be a cruel game, and a contact sport that so often produces hits that leave a mark. Given that, expect Trump’s enemies to focus on their enmity.
There’s no official word from the White House or the McCain camp as to what plans to honor the senator will be made. Make no mistake, though: They will be made. There are times to put political differences aside, and McCain’s service to the country deserves to to be honored in full.
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