White House Lowers, Then Raises, Then Lowers Flag To Half-Staff
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WASHINGTON (CBSMiami/AP) -- Late Monday afternoon, the White House lowered the flag flying at the White House to half-staff. It had been lowered to half-staff Sunday and raised to full staff again on Monday morning, even as the nation continued honoring the life and legacy of Sen. John McCain.
Two days after Sen. John McCain's death, President Donald Trump says he respects the senator's "service to our country" and has signed a proclamation to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff until his burial.
The flag atop the White House flew at half-staff over the weekend but was raised Monday and then lowered again amid criticism.
Trump and McCain have feuded for years. Trump tweeted about McCain after his death Saturday but has passed up several chances to comment publicly on the Arizona senator.
Trump says in a written statement Monday that he has asked Vice President Mike Pence to speak at a ceremony honoring McCain at the Capitol on Friday.
The president also says he's agreed to the McCain family's request for military transportation of McCain's remains from Arizona to Washington.
Earlier story follows:
Flags at the White House were back at full-staff Monday, even as Senate leaders of both parties formally requested American flags at government buildings stay at half-staff to honor Sen. John McCain.
The flags at the White House had been lowered a day earlier.
Aides to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Leader Charles Schumer requested that the Department of Defense keep flags at government buildings lowered until the sunset after McCain is buried in Annapolis, Maryland, next Sunday.
That's standard procedure when a member of the Senate passes away. McCain served in the chamber for six terms, most recently as chairman of the Armed Services Committee.
McCain was a frequent critic of President Donald Trump on everything from his leadership style to his Russia policy. Trump questioned the decorated Navy pilot's Vietnam heroism and chafed at McCain's vote to kill the president's "Obamacare" repeal.
McCain died on Saturday at 81 after a 13-month struggle with brain cancer. Trump tweeted condolences to McCain's family but made no reference to the Arizona senator.
U.S. Flag Code states that flags be lowered "on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress."
After Democratic Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts died in 2009, President Barack Obama ordered flags at the White House flown at half-staff for five days.
The White House didn't immediately respond to questions Monday.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
