Meghan McCain comes for Trump at her father's funeral: 'America was always great'
At the funeral ceremony for her Sen. John McCain, his daughter Meghan indirectly skewered President Donald Trump, telling those in attendance: "The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again, because America was always great."
McCain's words were a clear reference to Trump's infamous 2016 campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again," and the subsequent rallying cry for his base.
SEE ALSO: Touching John McCain tributes flood the internet in the hours after his death
Meghan McCain: "The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great" https://t.co/k7Ay16Crz9 pic.twitter.com/dhiAlXdeOe
— KTLA (@KTLA) September 1, 2018
During her speech at Saturday's ceremony held at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., McCain made use of the word "great" multiple times, both in reference to her father and to "American greatness."
She said, via footage from CNN:
"We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness. The real thing — not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly..."
Speaking through tears, Meghan McCain delivers an emotional tribute to her father https://t.co/w2FSihRCZo pic.twitter.com/cuP0apCve7— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) September 1, 2018
Though Trump was not in attendance at Saturday's funeral — he wasn't invited — his daughter Ivanka and her husband, White House aide Jared Kushner, were at the ceremony, per the Associated Press.
The president and the late senator had a famously tense relationship, and the White House drew ire on Monday when it initially neglected to fly the flag at half-mast in honor of McCain's passing on August 25.
As footage of McCain's speech made the rounds on Twitter, people praised the senator's daughter for using her platform to criticize Trump:
Meghan McCain:
“We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness—the real thing—not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly.”
Are you listening @realDonaldTrump?
She is talking about you.— Ryan Knight 🌊 (@ProudResister) September 1, 2018
Meghan McCain slayed it at National Cathedral. She has more courage than the entire Republican party and defended her father like a warrior. Took down Donald Trump like a champion. Perfect speech by Senator John McCain’s daughter. #McCainMemorial #McCainFuneral pic.twitter.com/lbW553wjw6
— Walcott (@JrMoe_) September 1, 2018
“The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great." — Meghan McCain
And Ivanka had to sit there and take it as everyone around her applauded in a highly unusual moment for a eulogy at the National Cathedral.— Charlotte Clymer🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) September 1, 2018
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