Trump Acknowledged Someone Hid USS McCain To Please Him. Now He’s Backtracking

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions on the comments of special counsel Robert Mueller while departing the White House May 30, 2019 in Washington, DC. Trump is scheduled to attend t... WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions on the comments of special counsel Robert Mueller while departing the White House May 30, 2019 in Washington, DC. Trump is scheduled to attend the commencement ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado later in the day.(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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While reiterating he had nothing to do with the process, President Trump acknowledged to reporters on Thursday that someone in his administration likely went to great lengths to hide the late-Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) name on the naval vessel named for McCain in order to please Trump.

Now, he’s back pedaling, casting the entire saga as “fake news.”

The Navy tweeted earlier this week that it did not make any efforts to conceal the name on the USS John McCain during Trump’s visit to Japan, but multiple reports indicate that conversations about obscuring the name took place.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the ship’s name was covered with tarps and the sailors who usually have McCain’s name emblazoned on their uniforms were asked not to come into work.

The Journal also reported that acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan knew about the conversations and even approved the plan. He denied those claims.

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