Trump on USS McCain Flap: “I Was Not Informed” But Whoever Did It Was “Well Meaning”

PACIFIC OCEAN - DECEMBER 26, 2003: In this file photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) is underway December 26, 2003 in the Pacific Ocean. According to reports on June 19, 2009 the USS John S. McCain is tracking the North Korean ship, Kang Nam off the coast of China. (Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Todd Frantom/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

It’s still not clear who gave the order but several government officials are denying they told the Navy to hide the USS John McCain and its sailors from Donald Trump while he was in Japan. One of those officials is the president himself.

The issue isn’t just whether Trump personally directed this – it’s also that some staff tried to implement this order out of fear of what would happen if the President saw the name of an actual American hero. https://t.co/QVVTQSjIyV
— Sam Vinograd (@sam_vinograd) May 30, 2019

President Trump tells @TerryMoran that he wasn't involved in the U.S.S. John McCain directive, but whoever did it was "well-meaning."

"I was not a big fan of John McCain in any way, shape of form … but I would never do a thing like that," he adds https://t.co/5ufo0XtRFv pic.twitter.com/MGEURoF0iJ
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) May 30, 2019

“They thought they were doing me a favor because they know I am not a fan of John McCain,” Trump says of WSJ report about moving the USS John S. McCain while he was in Japan. He later adds he “couldn’t care less about the boat” named after him.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 30, 2019

According to reports from the Wall Street Journal , a tarp was used to cover the name on the ship and sailors were told to take the day off when the president was in town. Sailors stationed in Japan were invited to attend a Memorial Day event with Trump, except those from the USS McCain.

The acting Secretary of Defense said he too was unaware of the effort to hide the US warship.

En route to Singapore, @ActingSecDef told press pool he never authorized, never approved any action or movement or activity regarding the USS John McCain. "I would never dishonor the memory of a great American patriot like Senator McCain," said Shanahan. pic.twitter.com/3tZyGiTHpG
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 30, 2019

CNBC reports this is the email that authorized the effort.

Two sources confirm to @CNBC that this is the email showing coordinated efforts to put the USS John McCain “out of sight.”

The Pentagon maintains that Acting Secretary of Defense Pat Shanahan was unaware of such plans. (H/T @RyanRuggiero) pic.twitter.com/adaZKtp1oE
— Amanda Macias (@amanda_m_macias) May 30, 2019

Today Meghan McCain said this whole situation “put people in the military in horrific situations.”

NEW: @MeghanMcCain: "It's impossible to go through the grief process when my father, who's been dead 10 months, is constantly in the news cycle, because the president is so obsessed with the fact that he's never going to be a great man like he was." https://t.co/ANCXA96byf pic.twitter.com/MnNXquUM10
— ABC News (@ABC) May 30, 2019

Petty, childish, & unbefitting of our Commander-in-Chief. Trump’s inability to rise above selfish political rivalry to honor our war heroes & respect their countless sacrifices is inexcusably disrespectful to our brave men & women in uniform. https://t.co/9kuU49tH2b
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) May 30, 2019