Nobody gets under President Donald Trump’s skin like the late Sen. John McCain.
In perhaps the pettiest episode yet for the thin-skinned President, the White House ordered the Navy to hide a warship bearing McCain’s name before Trump’s arrival in Japan. According to the Wall Street Journal, the aforementioned warship is undergoing repairs and unwieldy to move.
The solution? The ship was draped with tarps and its sailors, who usually wear regalia with the vessel’s name, were given the day off.
Trump denies any involvement.
I was not informed about anything having to do with the Navy Ship USS John S. McCain during my recent visit to Japan. Nevertheless, @FLOTUS and I loved being with our great Military Men and Women – what a spectacular job they do!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2019
Per the Journal, acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan knew of the order and approved of the plan. He denied that reporting to journalists on Thursday: “What I read this morning was the first I heard about it,” he said.
Meghan McCain was quick to come to her father’s defense.
Trump is a child who will always be deeply threatened by the greatness of my dads incredible life. There is a lot of criticism of how much I speak about my dad, but nine months since he passed, Trump won’t let him RIP. So I have to stand up for him.
It makes my grief unbearable. https://t.co/gUbFAla1VE
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) May 30, 2019
Trump’s hatred of McCain stretches back to the 2016 campaign when he proclaimed that the veteran, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for over five years, was not a real war hero since he was captured. McCain was severely beaten and kept in solitary confinement during that period, and declined multiple chances for early release because he didn’t want to leave his men behind.
McCain’s infamous “no” vote on the Obamacare repeal did nothing to endear him to Trump, who has continued to take potshots at the late senator ever since.
