WH Re-Lowers Flag For McCain After Taking Heat From Vets’ Groups

The White House has re-lowered its flag to half-staff after veterans groups and others were intensely critical of the flag being raised back to normal on Monday, just two days after McCain’s death. Custom holds that flags will be lowered to half-staff upon sitting senators’ deaths, and until their burials.

The President said in his first official statement on McCain’s death — aside from a tweet directed at McCain’s family — that “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.” (Read the full statement below.)

There’s been a lot of focus on this today, but the White House flag is now at half staff, after being fully raised earlier in the day. pic.twitter.com/MPZvGjnN7T

— Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) August 27, 2018

Read Trump’s fulls statement below:

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.

This post has been updated.