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Although neitherPresident Donald Trumpnor his wifeMelania Trumpwere in attendance atSen. John McCain’s memorial service in Washington D.C. on Saturday, his daughterIvanka Trumpand her husbandJared Kushnerboth made an appearance.
Before the ceremony at Washington National Cathedral began, the pair were seen arriving together.
Ivanka, 36, was also spottedgiving a hug to Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was a close friend of McCain, reported Axois.
President Trump, meanwhile, was tweeting.
As the procession was moving McCain’s casket from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington National Cathedral, the formerCelebrity Apprenticehost sent out tweets about the attacks on the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
During the funeral, he tweeted about the NAFTA negotiations, threatening to cut Canada out of the deal. Trump alsoleft the White House to travel to his golf coursein Virginia during the funeral,Timereported.
Reports have varied as to whether the president was invited to Sen. McCain’s funeral. White House sources told the Associated Press that McCain’s family asked Trump not to attend — he and the late senator having had a rocky history in the past. However, a McCain family source previously told PEOPLE the longtime politiciandid not prohibit Trump from attending his funeral.
“John had a feud with the president, and it got pretty intense, but I never heard anyone in the family say John banned Trump, and he never said that to me,” the source told PEOPLE. “John didn’t ban Trump. John could be spiteful, and he loved a good fight, but he wouldn’t do something like that.”
A second family source added: “I didn’t hear John say it. But I wouldn’t be surprised if John didn’t want Trump there.”
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RELATED VIDEO: Meghan McCain, George Bush andBarack ObamaSpeak at John McCain’s Memorial Service
Still, President Trump hasn’t exactly appeared overly sympathetic towards the McCain family.
In what waswidely considered a snub from the president,the White House‘s flags returned to full-staff on Monday, just two days after Sen. McCaindied of brain cancerat the age of 81.
Backlash ensued and, after initially addressing Sen. John McCain‘s death with atwo-sentence tweet, Trumpreleased a full statementlater on Monday announcing that the White House flag would return to half-staff and that Vice President Mike Pence will represent his administration at funeral services.
“Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Senator John McCain’s service to our country and, in his honor, have signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff until the day of his interment,” Trump said.
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“The America of John McCain is generous and welcoming and bold,” Meghan said. “She is resourceful and confident and secure. She meets her responsibilities, She speaks quietly because she is strong. America does not boast because she has no need to. The America of John McCain has no need to be great again because America was always great.”
There was also a reference toTrump’s previously criticism of McCain. “We live in an era where we knock down old American heroes for all their imperfections. When no leader wants to admit to fault or failure,” Meghan said, then talking to her father. “You were an exception, and you gave us an ideal to strive for. Look, I know you can see this gathering here in this cathedral. The nation is here to remember you.”
source: people.com
