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‘Trump rejects statement written by aides praising McCain’

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Donald Trump rejected a statement prepared by his aides that praised John McCain , according to the Washington Post , underscoring the US president ’ s enduring scorn for the late senator and war hero.
While tributes have poured in highlighting the Arizona Republican ’ s lifetime of service , Trump issued a single , terse tweet on Saturday that sent his “ deepest sympathies and respect ” to the bereaved family , without any words for McCain himself .

The absence of a formal communique from the White House has raised eyebrows and was all the more conspicuous after Vice President Mike Pence along with most of the cabinet , Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and all the living former presidents had issued their own statements over the weekend .
Citing unnamed current and former White House aides , the Post said Sanders , Chief of Staff John Kelly and other senior staff had advocated for a statement that called McCain a “ hero . ”

The statement was prepared and given to Trump for his approval , but according to the paper, the president told aides he preferred to tweet instead , and it was ultimately not released .

McCain was one of Trump ’ s sharpest critics , and made clear in one of his final wishes as he struggled with brain cancer that he did not want the president to attend his funeral .

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The roots of their animosity go back to when Trump announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in June 2015 , suggesting that many Mexican immigrants were criminals and “ rapists . ”

McCain denounced him for using language that “ fired up the crazies , ” while Trump said McCain was a “ dummy ” who had barely managed to graduate from the US Naval Academy .

He went on to attack McCain ’ s service in the military , saying of the onetime prisoner of war: “ I like people that weren ’ t captured . ”

As McCain ’ s health ebbed , he missed few opportunities to lash out at the president . He was one of just three Republican senators to vote against — and thus defeat — a Trump – backed effort to repeal Barack Obama ’ s signature health care law .

Following McCain ’ s death , admirers have recalled with fondness his insistence on fair and civil discourse — in contrast with the frequent incivility of the US president and his habit of coining unflattering descriptions of political foes .

( AFP)

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