A farewell letter to the nation written by Senator John McCain and read to the public by his close friend, Rick Davis, is a moving and inspiring message.
But it also takes a few shots at President Trump.
While the President is getting slammed for being petty by refusing to comment on McCain’s legacy, failing to release an official proclamation, and prematurely returning the White House flag to full staff, the Arizona senator’s statement shows the pettiness and disdain are mutual.
In the letter, McCain addresses those who “confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries” and takes a more direct shot at Trump by denouncing those who “hide behind walls.”
With building the wall being a staple of President Trump’s campaign and first term, it’s not hard to imagine who he was referring to in his message.
FINAL WORDS: John McCain’s former campaign manager just revealed the late senator’s final words to Americans, reading from an emotional letter. “Americans never quit, we never hide from history. We make history.” pic.twitter.com/eT6NzClRR8
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 27, 2018
“We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all corners of the globe,” McCain wrote.
“We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down when we doubt the power of our ideals rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been,” Davis, who described these as McCain’s ‘final words,’ read aloud.
This is a farewell letter from the late Senator John McCain. It was just released by his office. pic.twitter.com/aIs6YtXQVN
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) August 27, 2018
Despite their feud, Trump did issue a statement through social media in which he expressed his condolences to the McCain family.
“My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain,” the President wrote. “Our hearts and prayers are with you!”
McCain’s words at other times throughout his farewell message to the nation were incredibly moving.
“Do not despair of our present difficulties but believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here,” he wrote discussing the current political climate.
“Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history,” the Senator concluded.
Tributes for McCain from both sides of the aisle have come pouring in over the last few days, though Democrats have treated him just as bitterly over the years as Trump has in recent memory.
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The Senator and war hero will lie in state at both the U.S and Arizona Capitols, then buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland.
