Sen. John McCain, who is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer, has reportedly told the White House he does not want President Donald Trump to go to his funeral. The Arizona Republican has instead requested that Vice President Mike Pence attend in his place, according to NBC News.
Doctors diagnosed McCain, 81, with cancer in July of last year after it was determined that a brain tumor called a glioblastoma had caused a blood clot to appear near his left eye. Last month, the senator underwent surgery for an intestinal infection. Now, he is actively planning his funeral, which multiple outlets report will be held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush are slated to eulogize the ailing senator.
In McCain's forthcoming memoir "The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations," out May 22, an excerpt provided to NPR reads, "I don't know how much longer I'll be here . . . Maybe I'll be gone before you hear this. My predicament is, well, rather unpredictable." A new documentary about McCain's life is also slated to be released this month by HBO.
The New York Times, who first reported on McCain's wish for Trump not to attend his funeral, said:
Mr. McCain is using a new book and documentary to reveal his regret about not selecting former Senator Joseph I. Lieberman as his running mate in 2008. His intimates have informed the White House that their current plan for his funeral is for Vice President Mike Pence to attend the service to be held in Washington’s National Cathedral but not President Trump, with whom Mr. McCain has had a rocky relationship.
During the 2016 presidential primary, Trump mocked McCain, who was imprisoned during the Vietnam War for almost six years when he was a member of the U.S. Navy. "He's not a war hero," Trump said. "He's a war hero, because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured."
Their relationship continued to spiral after Trump was elected president – and particularly when McCain blocked Trump's efforts to repeal Obamacare in the Senate. At the time, Trump tweeted, "John McCain never had any intention of voting for this bill, which his governor loves. He campaigned on repeal and replace. Let Arizona down!"
Most recently, McCain criticized Trump's approach to Syria. “President Trump last week signaled to the world that the U.S. would prematurely withdraw from Syria. Bashar Assad and his Russian and Iranian backers have heard him, and emboldened by American inaction, Assad has reportedly launched another chemical attack against innocent men, women and children – this time in Douma," McCain said in a statement following the atrocity.
On Friday, McCain's daughter Meghan, who is a co-host of ABC's "The View," announced that she was heading home to Arizona to be with her family.
Going home to Arizona to be with my family - will be back on @TheView Tuesday. Thank you all again for your prayers, patience, understanding and compassion during this time. It means the world to me and my entire family. 🇺🇸🌵
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) May 4, 2018
Former Vice President Joe Biden also visited the Republican Senator at his home in Arizona, where he has lived for the last several months while undergoing treatment.
While McCain is not conceding his seat in the Senate just yet, many are concerned with how his health could impact the Republican majority in the his chamber, which is down to one single seat. There has been much noise about Democrats retaking the Senate this fall, but if McCain stays in office until June — rather than resign — it's unlikely there would be an election for his seat until 2020. Republicans seem to prefer this option, which would also give them more time to win back voter support. Other political colleagues see McCain ending his life and career much like Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy, who served in the Senate until his death from brain cancer in 2009.
McCain has served in the Senate for more than three decades, and before that, he also carried out two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, infamously picking the relatively unknown Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin to be his running mate.
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