John McCain memorial: Meghan McCain jabs Trump, says 'America was always great'

CLOSE

Meghan McCain shows her father’s spirit in beautiful, poignant and scathing tribute to him, at times displaying the defiance that came to define him.
USA TODAY

At Sen. John McCain’s memorial Saturday at the National Cathedral in Washington DC, the late Senator’s daughter mourned the passing of “American greatness.”

In her eulogy, Meghan McCain took a direct jab at President Trump and his campaign motto without repeating it.

“The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again, because America was always great,” she said.

She said her father was “the real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who lived lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served.”

On Friday, Meghan McCain gained attention after social media users noted the look on on her face as Vice President Mike Pence spoke during a memorial service for her father in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda Friday. 

Meghan McCain’s eyes appeared to snap on Pence during his remarks. Some on Twitter described as a “side-eye.” 

More: Presidents will pay tribute to McCain on Saturday

It’s no secret that there is little love lost between the McCains and President Donald Trump. Trump was not invited to McCain’s memorial services, making the president’s loyal VP the highest-ranking member of the White House present at the Capitol ceremony. 

Post to Facebook

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

President Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, center, talks with Ukrainian boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, left, as they arrive to attend a memorial service for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. McCain died Aug. 25 from brain cancer at age 81. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Susan Walsh, APPresident Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, second from right, talks with Ukrainian boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, second from left, as they arrive to attend a memorial service for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. McCain died Aug. 25 from brain cancer at age 81. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Susan Walsh, APFrom left, former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne and former Vice President Al Gore participate in a memorial service for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at Washington Nationals Cathedral in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. McCain died Aug. 25, from brain cancer at age 81. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Pablo Martinez Monsivais, APVisitors crowd the Vietnam Veterans Memorial after Cindy McCain, wife of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., placed a wreath, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Washington, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a Memorial Service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Andrew Harnik, APVisitors crowd the Vietnam Veterans Memorial after Cindy McCain, wife of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., placed a wreath, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Washington, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a Memorial Service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Andrew Harnik, APEliana Duy, 8, of Fla., poses for a photo at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial after Cindy McCain, wife of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., placed a wreath, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Washington, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a Memorial Service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Andrew Harnik, APCindy McCain arrives at a memorial service for her husband, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. McCain died Aug. 25, from brain cancer at age 81. Watching in the front row from left are President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Pablo Martinez Monsivais, APCindy McCain greets, from left, former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former vice president Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne at a memorial service for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at Washington Nationals Cathedral in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. McCain died Aug. 25, from brain cancer at age 81. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Pablo Martinez Monsivais, APFrom left, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former vice president Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne and former vice president Al Gore attend at a memorial service for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at Washington Nationals Cathedral in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. McCain died Aug. 25, from brain cancer at age 81. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Pablo Martinez Monsivais, APRhonda Zuck, left, and her husband, Tim Zuck, center, who both served in the U.S. Army, drove from Racine, Wis., for the wreath laying ceremony for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. (Ray Whitehouse/Pool photo via AP) Ray Whitehouse, APHolly Knowlton, left, and her husband retired Gen. David Petraeus, right, arrive to attend a memorial service for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. McCain died Aug. 25 from brain cancer at age 81. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Susan Walsh, APA crowd gathers before Cindy McCain, wife of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., arrives to lay a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a memorial service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) Andrew Harnik, APA crowd gathers before Cindy McCain, wife of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., arrives to lay a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a memorial service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) Andrew Harnik, APCindy McCain, wife of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., accompanied by President Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff John Kelly, left, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, second from left, lays a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a Memorial Service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) Andrew Harnik, APThe family of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., front row from left, Meghan McCain, Bridget McCain and Cindy McCain, watches as his casket is carried to a hearse from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Washington, for a departure to the Washington National Cathedral for a memorial service. (Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool Photo via AP) Jim Lo Scalzo, APNavy Lt. Jack McCain, the son of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is reflected in the wall of the Vietnam Memorial as Jack’s mother, Cindy McCain, accompanied by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, right, and President Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff John Kelly, left, departs after laying a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a Memorial Service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) Andrew Harnik, APCindy McCain, wife of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., center, accompanied by President Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff John Kelly, right, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, second from left, and family members, arrives at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a Memorial Service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) Andrew Harnik, APCindy McCain, wife of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., accompanied by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, left, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, second from left, lays a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a Memorial Service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) Andrew Harnik, APCindy McCain, wife of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lays a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a Memorial Service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) Andrew Harnik, APBridget McCain and Meghan McCain, daughters of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., watch as Cindy McCain, lays a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a Memorial Service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) Andrew Harnik, APCindy McCain, wife of, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., holds a tissue as she arrives to lay a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a Memorial Service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) Andrew Harnik, APFamily members of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., watch as his wife, Cindy McCain, right, accompanied by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, third from right, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, second from right, lays a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, during a funeral procession to carry the casket of her husband from the U.S. Capitol to National Cathedral for a Memorial Service. McCain served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was a prisoner of war for more than five years. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) Andrew Harnik, AP

• 1 of 108
• 2 of 108
• 3 of 108
• 4 of 108
• 5 of 108
• 6 of 108
• 7 of 108
• 8 of 108
• 9 of 108
• 10 of 108
• 11 of 108
• 12 of 108
• 13 of 108
• 14 of 108
• 15 of 108
• 16 of 108
• 17 of 108
• 18 of 108
• 19 of 108
• 20 of 108
• 21 of 108
• 22 of 108
• 23 of 108
• 24 of 108
• 25 of 108
• 26 of 108
• 27 of 108
• 28 of 108
• 29 of 108
• 30 of 108
• 31 of 108
• 32 of 108
• 33 of 108
• 34 of 108
• 35 of 108
• 36 of 108
• 37 of 108
• 38 of 108
• 39 of 108
• 40 of 108
• 41 of 108
• 42 of 108
• 43 of 108
• 44 of 108
• 45 of 108
• 46 of 108
• 47 of 108
• 48 of 108
• 49 of 108
• 50 of 108
• 51 of 108
• 52 of 108
• 53 of 108
• 54 of 108
• 55 of 108
• 56 of 108
• 57 of 108
• 58 of 108
• 59 of 108
• 60 of 108
• 61 of 108
• 62 of 108
• 63 of 108
• 64 of 108
• 65 of 108
• 66 of 108
• 67 of 108
• 68 of 108
• 69 of 108
• 70 of 108
• 71 of 108
• 72 of 108
• 73 of 108
• 74 of 108
• 75 of 108
• 76 of 108
• 77 of 108
• 78 of 108
• 79 of 108
• 80 of 108
• 81 of 108
• 82 of 108
• 83 of 108
• 84 of 108
• 85 of 108
• 86 of 108
• 87 of 108
• 88 of 108
• 89 of 108
• 90 of 108
• 91 of 108
• 92 of 108
• 93 of 108
• 94 of 108
• 95 of 108
• 96 of 108
• 97 of 108
• 98 of 108
• 99 of 108
• 100 of 108
• 101 of 108
• 102 of 108
• 103 of 108
• 104 of 108
• 105 of 108
• 106 of 108
• 107 of 108
• 108 of 108

Last SlideNext Slide

On Saturday Meghan McCain also noted her father’s breeding as son and grandson of admirals, accomplishments across the world and tenderness as a father despite his tribulations.

“My father had every reason to think the world was an awful place … my father had every reason to think the world was worth leaving,” she said. “He did not think those things.” 

She finished off her emotional tribute by recounting her father’s final moments beside his beloved Oak Creek. 

“An old man shook off a scars of battle one last time and arose a new man to pilot one last flight,” she said through deep sobs. “Up and up, busting clouds left and right – straight on through to the Kingdom of Heaven. He slipped the earthly bonds, put out his hand and touched the face of God”.

Contributing: William Cummings, Dan Nowicki, Bree Burkitt, Ryan C Miller, Tom Vanden Brook and Donovan Slack, USA TODAY

Article source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~/567341286/0/usatodaycomwashington-topstories~John-McCain-memorial-Meghan-McCain-jabs-Trump-says-aposAmerica-was-always-greatapos/