Update: After scolding from American Legion, White House again lowers flag to half staff in honor of John McCain

UPDATE 8/27/18 3:35pm:

After criticism from the American Legion and others, the White House decided to again lower the flag to half staff in honor of Senator John McCain late this afternoon.

From CBS:

In McCain's case, before the flag was lowered again, the American Legion issued a statement urging the president to do so in keeping with "long-established protocol." The veterans organization said:

"Mr. President, just this year, you released presidential proclamations noting the deaths of Barbara Bush and Billy Graham. Senator John McCain was an American hero and cherished member of The American Legion. As I'm certain you are aware, he served five and a half years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam and retired from the U.S. Navy at the rank of Captain. He then served in the U.S. Congress for more than three decades.

On the behalf of The American Legion's two million wartime veterans, I strongly urge you to make an appropriate presidential proclamation noting Senator McCain's death and legacy of service to our nation, and that our nation's flag be half-staffed through his internment."

Trump waited until this afternoon two days after McCain's death to finally release a formal proclamation regarding McCain's death.

Story earlier today:

The flag at the White House was only left at half staff in honor of Senator John McCain until just after midnight Monday morning. This breaks with the tradition that the flag remains at half staff for a sitting senator who dies until the day of internment. McCain's funeral is set for Sunday.

In fact, if petty Trump had his way, the flag probably wouldn't have been lowered at all. But "the federal code states that the flag shall be lowered on the day of death and the following day for a sitting member of Congress," according to ABC News.

Trump also ignored a question about his thoughts on McCain's legacy when asked by ABC.

When ABC News chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl asked the president for "any thoughts on the legacy of John McCain," Trump heard the question but ignored him several times during a Mexico trade announcement in front of reporters, according to Karl.

Flag back at full staff atop WH. Pres Trump did not issue proclamation on the death of @SenJohnMcCain, which usually calls for flags to remain at half-staff through the day of interment, which is Sunday at the @NavalAcademy. pic.twitter.com/NGasNPT0VB

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 27, 2018

It's no wonder the McCain family asked Trump not to attend the funeral. They did invite George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Mike Pence.

Image: 12019/Pixabay