Sen. John McCain has, apparently, done his time being a loyal Republican and holding back what he really thinks about Donald Trump, if the news about the invitation list to McCain’s funeral is any indicator. Trump mocked McCain’s time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, among other things, and McCain swallowed and got with the program when Trump was the Republican nominee. But as McCain considers his likely death, he seems to be done.
People close to Sen. John McCain have told the White House that the ailing Arizona Republican does not want President Donald Trump to attend his funeral and would like Vice President Mike Pence to come instead, a source close to McCain confirmed to NBC News.
Even better? Eulogists will include former Presidents George W. Bush and … Barack Obama.
McCain’s new book goes into some detail suggesting why he might not want Trump at his funeral:
"His lack of empathy for refugees, innocent, persecuted, desperate men, women, and children, is disturbing," McCain writes in "The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations," set for publication May 22. "The way he speaks about them is appalling, as if welfare or terrorism were the only purposes they could have in coming to our country."
"His reaction to unflattering news stories, calling them 'fake news,' whether they're credible or not, is copied by autocrats who want to discredit and control a free press," McCain writes. "He has declined to distinguish the actions of our government from the crimes of despotic ones. He has showered with praise some of the world's worst tyrants."
The Bush family didn’t want Trump at Barbara Bush’s funeral. John McCain doesn’t want Trump at his. If you only paid attention to funerals, you might think the Republican Party had turned its back on Trump—but of course, Congress is what matters and he still rules the GOP there.