US President Donald Trump reportedly rejected
plans to issue a White House statement that would have paid tribute
to the heroism of Republican Senator John McCain, preferring instead
to issue a brief tweet.
The Washington Post reported that aides had prepared a statement
ahead of McCain's death on Saturday that would have praised the
Vietnam veteran for his service to the military and the Senate.
But Trump, who in 2015 derided McCain's five years as a prisoner of
war in Vietnam by saying "I like people who weren't captured," nixed
the plans despite pleas from Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and Chief
of Staff John Kelly, the Post wrote.
"My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator
John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" he tweeted
instead.
The two men had been at odds since Trump launched his presidential
campaign in 2015, with McCain repeatedly attacking Trump and his
policies.
Most recently, he blasted Trump for failing to publicly confront
Russian President Vladimir Putin about election meddling in "one of
the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory"
at their Helsinki summit in July.
Trump made no comment when McCain decided to end treatment for brain
cancer on Friday, and also failed to mention McCain earlier this
month when he signed a defence-spending bill named for him.
But his perfunctory response to his death attracted particular ire on
social media and was in stark contrast to the traditional gracious
statements issued by presidents on the death of notable Americans.
It also contrasted with the flood of heartfelt tributes that came
from both Republicans and Democrats, including former president
Barack Obama, as well as Trump's own wife Melania Trump, and from
foreign leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron.