What did Donald Trump do today?
He refused to respect protocol by keeping the American flag at half-staff until John McCain is buried.
Trump appears to be deliberately provoking outrage with his behavior in the wake of Sen. John McCain's death. Shortly after midnight--the shortest possible time allowed by Defense Department regulations, in the event that a sitting senator dies--the White House flag was raised from half-staff. But in practice, American flags are always ordered to be flown at half-staff until the burial.
After an Oval Office call with the president of Mexico, Trump also crossed his arms and pointedly refused to answer reporters' questions about McCain.
"Why won't you say anything about John McCain?"@jonkarl asked Pres. Trump ten times today to comment on Senator John McCain, who passed away this weekend at age 81. The president did not respond. https://t.co/HebITj8csN pic.twitter.com/iwKYhGRaNj— ABC News (@ABC) August 27, 2018
Meanwhile, veterans' organizations were enraged by the flag snub and by Trump's general unwillingness to recognize McCain.
Eventually, Trump relented and allowed the White House flag to be lowered again.
Eventually, Trump relented and allowed the White House flag to be lowered again.
Why should I care about this?
- Past a certain point, pettiness becomes pathological.