Unsettled by tributes to the late Senator John McCain, Donald Trump declares himself America’s “all-time favorite” President.
McCain died on Friday from brain cancer. Politicians, journalists, and activists spoke through the weekend of his military service — including 5 1/2 years as a prisoner-of-war in North Vietnam — and his decades in the US Senate and as a Presidential candidate.
See also VideoCast: Reflections on John McCain and “America”
But Trump vetoed a White House statement which praised McCain’s heroism and his military and political service. He told aides that he would post a brief tweet on Saturday night, which offered condolences to McCain’s family but did not mention the Senator.
TrumpWatch, Day 583: Trump Tries to Ignore Death of McCain
The White House was left to post statements from other officials such as Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, and other Cabinet members and staff. They joined tributes from former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush and foreign leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Meanwhile, Trump was uncharacteristically silent on Twitter for most of Sunday, as he or his staff limited themselves to retweets of previous Trump thoughts on other topics.
Then, after a round of golf at his club in Virginia and returning to a White House with flags at half-mast, Trump ventured onto Twitter — to praise himself.
Fantastic numbers on consumer spending released on Friday. Stock Market hits all time high!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018
He reached back for a Washington Times article from two weeks ago, “Mainstream Media tries to rewrite history to credit Obama for Trump accomplishments”, and then — citing false poll numbers — sought the title of #1 President.
Over 90% approval rating for your all time favorite (I hope) President within the Republican Party and 52% overall. This despite all of the made up stories by the Fake News Media trying endlessly to make me look as bad and evil as possible. Look at the real villains please!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2018
(Trump’s average approval rating across polls is just under 42%. His disapproval rating is over 53%.)
McCain’s friends and former staff shrugged off Trump’s response. John Weaver said:
It certainly doesn’t bother me or the people I know close to John. I don’t think it bothers John one bit. If we heard something today or tomorrow from Trump, we know it’d mean less than a degree from Trump University.
I've had reporters call asking about the "relationship" between John & Trump or about their feud. There was no relationship. John McCain's values are America's values. They are not shared with Trump. There was no feud. John was about liberty & America, Trump about cash & power.
— John Weaver (@JWGOP) August 27, 2018
Mccain was a treacherous man and a traitor to his country.
Part of the Obama/Clinton/Bush new world order, aided many deepstate criminals and a criminal himself.
Good riddance Mccain.