US bids farewell to McCain

John McCain’s funeral in Washington yesterday was marked by an absence, that of the US president, Donald Trump. No one mentioned the name, but it was not necessary, as his figure overshadowed the event in the national cathedral of the federal capital.

The first to speak at the event attended by 2,500 people was Meghan McCain, the daughter of the Arizona senator, who died on Saturday of a brain tumour, who made an emotional address that included criticism of Trump. “We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness,” she said. “The real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly.” Her words were a clear reference to Trump’s campaign slogan of Make America Great Again, which her father rejected, saying there was no need to make America great again because it has “always been great.” Meghan McCain’s words were received with surprise from the attendees, who after a moment bypassed funeral protocol and applauded.

However, the most highly anticipated speech, at least on social media, was that of Trump’s predecessor in the White House, Barack Obama, who praised the man who was his rival in the presidential election of 2008. Obama praised McCain’s political conviction, which led him to vote against the Democrat president’s health reform in 2017, against the majority position of the Republican party, and that of Trump. “So much of our politics, our public life, our public discourse can seem small and mean and petty, trafficking in bombast and insult and phony controversies and manufactured outrage,” Obama said. “It’s a politics that pretends to be brave and tough but in fact is born of fear.” The former president’s words led to many eulogies online and from among political commentators.