President Trump Reportedly Will Not Attend John McCain's Funeral

From Town & Country

Lifelong public servant Senator John McCain, who died Saturday after a year-long battle with brain cancer, will reportedly be memorialized by two former presidents. According to CNN, Barack Obama and George W. Bush will give the eulogies at McCain's funeral in Washington, D.C.. But President Trump will not be there. Justin Jouvenal, a journalist for the Washington Post reports on Twitter, "Spokesman for John McCain said President Trump will not be attending the Arizona senator's funeral."

Earlier this year, it was widely reported that McCain does not want current President Donald Trump to be invited to the service. Despite being members of the same political party, Trump and McCain have a poor relationship; Trump once said that "[McCain's] not a war hero. He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured" during a campaign event in Iowa.

"[McCain's] intimates have informed the White House that their current plan for his funeral is for Vice President Mike Pence to attend the service to be held in Washington’s National Cathedral but not President Trump, with whom Mr. McCain has had a rocky relationship," reads an article in the New York Times from May of this year.

McCain's pallbearers will include confidants from both of sides of the aisle including former Vice President Joe Biden, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and actor Warren Beatty.

On Wednesday, August 29, McCain will lie in state at the Arizona State capital. Following a private formal ceremony at 10 a.m. PT, the public can pay their respects starting at 2 p.m. A livestream of the events is available below.

There will also be a religious memorial service at North Phoenix Baptist Church on Thursday August 30.

Then, McCain's casket will travel to Washington, D.C. where on Friday the late Senator will lie in state at the United States Capitol. Following a formal service at 11 a.m., the public is invited to pay their respects between the hours of 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

On Saturday at approximately 8:30 a.m., there will be a public processional from the Capitol to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. According to McCain's website, "The motorcade will pause at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial where Mrs. Cindy McCain will lay a ceremonial wreath honoring all whose lives were lost during the Vietnam War. The public is welcome to line the procession route along Constitution Avenue to pay their respects to Senator McCain."

The former senator will then make his way to Washington National Cathedral. Per McCain's website, this an invite-only memorial, but there will be a livestream available.

Both Obama and Bush 43 paid tribute to McCain on social media after receiving news of his passing. Read their comments below for a preview of what might be said at his memorial services.

President Barack Obama:

"John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher-the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible - and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way.

"Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John's best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our heartfelt condolences to Cindy and their family."

President George W. Bush:

"Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom I'll deeply miss. Laura and I send our heartfelt sympathies to Cindy and the entire McCain family, and our thanks to God for the life of John McCain."

We'll continue to update this post with further news of McCain's memorial services.

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