Don’t look now, but the pathetic man-child Donald Trump is at it again with his unique brand of schoolyard pettiness.
Less than three days after the death of long-time Arizona Senator and Vietnam War hero John McCain, the White House opened the work week with the American Flag flying at full-staff breaking with typical protocol. This is despite what federal code demands which is only that for a member of Congress, the flag should be flown at half-staff “on the day of death and following day.”
Flag back at full staff atop WH. Pres Trump did not issue proclamation on the death of @SenJohnMcCain, which usually calls for flags to remain at half-staff through the day of interment, which is Sunday at the @NavalAcademy. pic.twitter.com/NGasNPT0VB
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 27, 2018
Via CBS News:
For an associate justice of the Supreme Court, secretary of executive or military department, former vice president, or governor, the prescribed time is from “the day of death until interment.” The death of a vice president, chief justice, former chief justice or House speaker merits 10 days, and for a president or former president, the flag flies at half-staff for 30 days.
But lets not try to pretend that Trump is using federal flag code as justification for blatant disrespect of John McCain. If federal flag code was something that meant anything to Trump then he’d be ringing out the NFL and any other sports league for laying the flag flat above the playing surface during the National Anthem. Or he’d shun anyone wearing an American Flag bathing suit on the Fourth of July or any company using the Flag in advertising.
Instead Trump followed his shallow tweet Saturday evening by following his own typical protocol by taking twitter shots at Hillary Clinton and the ‘fake news media’.
My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018
Then Monday, with the flag still at full-staff, Trump completely ignored questions regarding McCain and sat with his cabinet around him, arms folded like some spoiled teenager who didn’t get a new car for their 16th birthday.
It wasn’t until getting reamed out by the American Legion who released the following statement:
“Mr. President, just this year, you released presidential proclamations noting the deaths of Barbara Bush and Billy Graham. Senator John McCain was an American hero and cherished member of The American Legion. As I’m certain you are aware, he served five and a half years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam and retired from the U.S. Navy at the rank of Captain. He then served in the U.S. Congress for more than three decades.
On the behalf of The American Legion’s two million wartime veterans, I strongly urge you to make an appropriate presidential proclamation noting Senator McCain’s death and legacy of service to our nation, and that our nation’s flag be half-staffed through his internment.”
After that, Trump would decide to once again lower the flag above the White House to half-staff and finally release a formal statement on Senator McCain’s passing:
“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.”
Wow, how thoughtful, and it only took until Monday afternoon to issue it out. But is anyone really buying this undoubted BS from Trump? No doubt the cultish #MAGA base is eating this shit up as a talking point against 45 detractors.
As far as that typical aforementioned protocol goes, President’s will keep the White House flag at half-staff until the said senator, justice, cabinet member, etc has been formally laid to rest. For instance, President Obama, who saw Senators Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts; Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia; and Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii die during his presidency, flags remained at half-staff until they were buried.
But seriously how incredibly ironic is all of this? A president who consistently claims to put veterans first or pushes some kind of sick fake patriotism on NFL players still can’t put aside his sad, childish idiosyncrasies to honor not only a member of his own party but someone who served the American people essentially their entire life.
Who can really be that surprised though? Donald Trump only serves the person he stares at in the mirror every morning.
