Under pressure, Trump takes U-turn; orders flag at half-staff to honour deceased war-hero John McCain

The White House flag was lowered after McCain's death on Saturday - but it was once again at the top of the flagpole on Monday morning.

The US flag above the White House flies at half-staff in the evening in Washington, DC, on August 27, 2018. Under fire for what critics said was a lack of respect for the late US senator John McCain, President Donald Trump issued a formal proclamation about the lawmaker's death and ordered the White House flag back to half-staff. The proclamation affects the flag atop the White House and all public buildings, as well as military installations and embassies. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN

New Delhi: After facing strong criticism for his ‘lack of respect’ for late senator John McCain, US President Donald Trump took a U-turn and agreed to lower the US flag again Trump’s decision came after he found himself ensnared in a controversy after the US flag was back to full-mast on Monday. Critics slammed trump for his ‘lack of respect’ for the 81-year-old war-hero, who died after a year-long battle with brain cancer. The White House flag was lowered after McCain's death on Saturday - but it was once again at the top of the flagpole on Monday morning. Finding himself under pressure, Trump said that he has signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the US at half-staff until the day of McCain’s interment. The proclamation is issued for the flags at White House and all public buildings, as well as military installations and embassies. He also said that Vice-President Mike Pence would speak at a ceremony at the US Capitol in remembrance. Trump said that despite differences between McCain and him on policy and politics, he respects his service to the country. Trump and McCain had been on opposite ends since the time Trump announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination with an attack on Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists. As per reports, during the 2016 campaign, Trump had mocked McCain's war service. In the years since, McCain was Trump's loudest Republican critic.