Trump Is So Sensitive About McCain That The WH Ordered A Ship Be Hidden From View

Portrait of members of the McCain family as they attend the christening of USS John S McCain (DDG-56), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer named after US Navy admiral John McCain Jr, Bath, Maine, September 26, 1992. Pic... Portrait of members of the McCain family as they attend the christening of USS John S McCain (DDG-56), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer named after US Navy admiral John McCain Jr, Bath, Maine, September 26, 1992. Pictured are, from left, McCain's son, American politician US Senator John S McCain III, his wife, Roberta McCain (nee Wright), grandson son Jack (born John S McCain IV), granddaughter Meghan, and McCain III's wife, Cindy. (Photo by PH1 Robert Joyal, US Navy/PhotoQuest/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

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.

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’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.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for jep07 jep07 says:

    The Navy should rename it’s garbage scows the Trump Class of Naval Vessels.
    Put his name on every one of them.

  2. What does Princess Meghan have to say about it? Is she OK with it because it was done by rethugs?

  3. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/30/out-of-sight-white-house-reportedly-steers-uss-john-mccain-away-from-trump

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48456742

    The New York Times also reported that the warship’s crew members, who have “USS John S McCain” on their caps, were sent home for the long weekend, along with the crew from another ship.
    When some of them turned up to watch the speech anyway, the paper added, they were turned away.
    But Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan told reporters that he had been unaware of the incident, adding: “When I read about it this morning, it was the first I heard about it.”
    The Navy has said there was nothing untoward in giving the crew time off.

    @ANNFFL

    Meghan McCain, Mr McCain’s daughter, tweeted in response to the reports: “Trump is a child who will always be deeply threatened by the greatness of my dad’s incredible life.”
    She added: “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.”

  4. It’s this crap that is draining the GOP base daily. They’ll die by a million cuts.

  5. This morning, John Meacham likened this story of hiding the USS John S McCain (and her crew) from Trump’s view to “baby-proofing the Presidency”.

    He reiterated that it is clear that the Presidency did not change Trump, but that he fears that Trump has changed the Presidency.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

107 more replies

Participants

Avatar for heart Avatar for srfromgr Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for jep07 Avatar for krusher Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for randyabraham Avatar for tacoma Avatar for sanni Avatar for greylady Avatar for careysub Avatar for dickweed Avatar for darrtown Avatar for isakindamagic Avatar for jonney_5 Avatar for clauscph Avatar for rickjones Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for corncaucus2008 Avatar for kelaine Avatar for carolson Avatar for c_stedman Avatar for emiliano4

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: