President Donald Trump issued a statement on Monday expressing his "respect" for the late Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and ordering flags to be flown at half-staff following criticism from veterans groups and others about the his response to the elder statesman's passing.
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.
I have asked Vice President Mike Pence to offer an address at the ceremony honoring Senator McCain at the United States Capitol this Friday.
At the request of the McCain family, I have also authorized military transportation of Senator 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.
Finally, I have asked General John Kelly, Secretary James Mattis, and Ambassador John Bolton to represent my Administration at his services.
A proclamation also issued by the president ordered flags in the nation to be flown at half-staff to honor the late senator from Arizona.
McCain died Saturday at the age of 81 following a yearlong battle with glioblastoma brain cancer in July 2017, and was undergoing various treatments, including both chemotherapy and radiation over the last year up until Friday when his family announced that the senator was discontinuing treatment.
In a final message addressed to the American people, McCain expressed hope and gratefulness, saying he "lived and died a proud American" urging the nation to not "despair of a present difficulties" in what many saw as a thinly veiled rebuke of the current administration.
Monday's proclamation comes following a report that Trump had initially rejected a White House statement praising McCain over the weekend and instead posting a tweet.
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