Kasich slams White House for returning flags to full staff after McCain’s death

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) slammed the White House on Monday for flying flags at full-staff less than 48 hours after Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) death.

“Shameful,” Kasich said on Twitter.

Shameful. https://t.co/DRpwwj2fZs

— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) August 27, 2018

McCain died on Saturday afternoon of brain cancer at the age of 81.

{mosads}President Trump ordered the flags lowered to half-staff later that evening. The flags, however, returned to full-staff on Monday — far sooner than typically done to honor lawmakers after their deaths.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request from The Hill for comment.

Kasich praised McCain shortly after his death, calling him “an iconic American hero, patriot and statesmen without compare.”

I will miss my old friend. @SenJohnMcCain pic.twitter.com/HroWCId73O

— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) August 26, 2018

He also ordered all public flags in Ohio to be lowered to half-staff in honor of McCain. 

McCain died Saturday after being diagnosed with brain cancer a year earlier. Even after his diagnosis, he remained one of Trump’s most outspoken Republican critics.

Trump reportedly rejected a White House statement prepared by his aides that praised McCain as a “hero” after his death, instead preferring to tweet his condolence.

A spokesperson for McCain confirmed on Monday that Trump will not attend the funeral.

It was reported earlier this year that McCain did not want Trump in attendance, instead asking former Presidents Obama and George W. Bush to deliver eulogies.

McCain is scheduled to lie in the Arizona Capitol on Wednesday and then the U.S. Capitol on Friday. He will be buried at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., on Sunday.