The American flag flying above the White House was at full-staff early Monday morning despite the nation continuing to honor the life and legacy of Sen. John McCain.
The Arizona Republican, whose relationship with President Trump has long been rocky because of the Senator’s outspokenness, died on Saturday at the age of 81 after battling brain cancer.
Although President Trump originally ordered the flag to be lowered late Saturday evening, many White House reporters noticed that the flag was returned to full staff Monday morning.
Trump did not issue a formal proclamation on McCain’s death, which usually calls for flags to remain at half-staff through the day of internment. McCain’s final resting service will take place Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Many reporters and commentators noted that in the past, flags remained lowered to honor lawmakers and major public figures until the day of their funerals.
McCain passed away following a year-long battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Even after his diagnosis, McCain remained one of Trump’s most outspoken Republican critics. McCain reportedly did not want Trump to attend his funeral. Instead the Senator requested that former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush deliver eulogies.
Trump reportedly scraped a draft statement from the White House calling McCain a “hero” after the senator’s death, instead issuing a tweet offering his sympathies to McCain’s family.
By Maytinee Kramer
