Rally in Indiana comes amid McCain funeral preparations
Mr. Trump had a contentious relationship with McCain, who died on Saturday. The relationship between the two men soured after Mr. Trump said in 2015 that McCain was not a war hero because he was captured and held as a prisoner of war for five years during the Vietnam War. Since Mr. Trump took office, McCain had been a vocal opponent of the president, particularly on issues of foreign policy.
McCain also voted against the Republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act in July 2017. Mr. Trump repeatedly brought up McCain’s vote against the repeal at rallies, although he did not on Thursday.
After McCain’s death, the president was briefly embroiled in controversy while the White House lowered its flag to half-staff, then had it raised fully, and then had it lowered again.
McCain’s funeral service in Arizona was on Thursday, featuring a eulogy from former Vice President Joe Biden.
Mr. Trump was very pointedly not invited to either of McCain’s funeral services, although former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama will be delivering eulogies at his funeral in Washington on Saturday. McCain’s casket arrived at Joint Base Andrews Thursday evening.
In an interview with Bloomberg News on Thursday, Trump said that he and McCain had many disagreements.
“I disagreed with many of the things that I assume he believed in. With that being said, I respect his service to the country,” Mr. Trump said.
This is the first rally Mr. Trump is holding since McCain’s death.
