President Donald Trump defended his response to the death of Senator John McCain Thursday during a four-hour interview with Bloomberg News Editor in Chief John Micklethwait and reporters Jennifer Jacobs and Margaret Talev.in the Oval Office.
Did Trump make a mistake and miss an opportunity to unite the country after McCain died? “I’ve done everything that… https://t.co/O4MSge8aep— Bloomberg Politics (@Bloomberg Politics) 1535672687.0
Bloomberg asked the president if he had any regrets over how he handled McCain's death.
"Mr. President, as you know, of course John McCain’s remains are on -- on -- on their way back to Washington now. You had an opportunity to unite the country this week," Bloomberg asked. I’m just wondering if you felt like you screwed it up?"
Trump refused to acknowledge the mere possibility he had done anything wrong.
"No, I don’t think I did at all. I -- I’ve -- I’ve done everything that they requested, and no, I don’t think I have at all," Trump replied. The president added that he and McCain had "very strong disagreements" and that he "disagreed with many of the things that I assume he [McCain] believed in."
Trump said that despite the differences he had with McCain, "I respect his service to the country."
After McCain passed away on Saturday, Trump bungled what would normally be routine honorary procedures following the passing of someone of McCain's stature.
In the hours after McCain's death, Trump ordered flags to return to full staff, which drew the ire of veterans groups and sparked a massive public outcry. Trump eventually ordered the flags down to half-mast on Monday.
Bloomberg also pushed Trump to opine on if McCain would have made a better president than Barack Obama.
Trump declined to say if he thinks McCain would have been a better president than Obama, even as his press secretar… https://t.co/Mxh6jFmkJ5— Bloomberg Politics (@Bloomberg Politics) 1535672794.0
"I don’t want to comment on it," Trump quipped. "I have a very strong opinion on it."
Trump and Bloomberg bantered back and forth after Bloomberg said they "would love to know" Trump's thoughts.
TRUMP: I have a very strong...
(CROSSTALK)
BLOOMBERG: That’s not -- that’s not a terrible question, that...
@bpolitics @vplus Asked if McCain would have been a better president, Trump declined to say, even as his press secr… https://t.co/2OSB6MBNCK— Aron Goldman (@Aron Goldman) 1535673008.0
Trump shifted the conversation by boasting that White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was "having a nervous breakdown" as she watched her boss dodge the question.
The look on Sanders' face said it all.
@bpolitics I think Sarah may be looking forward to the day she gets to testify against Trump. https://t.co/69zEUnUd29— She persisted (@She persisted) 1535673682.0
TRUMP: I have a very strong -- Sarah, she’s just having a nervous breakdown.
(LAUGHTER)
Trump said he may share his opinion on McCain vs. Obama "someday later."
TRUMP: I have a very strong opinion on it.
BLOOMBERG: But you want to -- you want to keep that to yourself.
TRUMP: Maybe I’ll give you that answer someday later. Yes. But I have a very strong opinion on that.
In a letter to the public published after his death, McCain said losing the 2008 presidential election to Obama was a "privilege."
@bpolitics He would have been a better Statesman, more honorable and without any doubt more intellectual President… https://t.co/GTTLhnhMOV— Bobbie Pittman (@Bobbie Pittman) 1535678320.0
On Monday, Trump ignored reporters who asked him to comment on McCain's passing, which he recognized on Saturday in a brief, vague tweet to the six-term Senator's family:
My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1535244253.0
McCain made it known before he died that he didn't want Trump to attend his funeral.
Social media was not the least bit surprised by Trump's refusal to answer simple questions.
Trump is "incapable of understanding why" many in the United States are mourning McCain.
The prevailing sentiment was that Trump did unite the country after McCain's death, but "in a different way," meaning against himself.
@cnni He did unite the country with his response, just in a different way.— Byяon Kittle (@Byяon Kittle) 1535679786.0
Then again, uniting Americans isn't Trump's strong suit.
Neither is empathy.
Nor does he have the willingness to admit when he was wrong.
@cnni Of course he didn't think he made a mistake. Just one more example of his narcissism and poor leadership abilities.— Lindley Johnson (@Lindley Johnson) 1535679862.0
Oh, Trump and McCain had disagreements, alright.
@cnni Let’s move on from Trump being an ahole about Senator McCain. We all knew he would act this way and let’s pu… https://t.co/onL7qb8FsW— Zat010128 (@Zat010128) 1535721129.0
@cnni McCain hated him so much, he might’ve actually been ok with ppl using his death to make political attacks on… https://t.co/S9aXNJouhD— CMB (@CMB) 1535680276.0
Trump missed another opportunity to do the right thing.
@cnni Of course he didn't think he made a mistake. Just one more example of his narcissism and poor leadership abilities.— Lindley Johnson (@Lindley Johnson) 1535679862.0
@cnni What a d---!! Could have somewhat redeemed himself.— Raul (@Raul) 1535679887.0
Sad!