National Cathedral says Trump didn’t need to give ‘approval’ for McCain funeral

The Washington National Cathedral disputed President Trump’s claim that he had to “approve” the funeral of the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). 

“Washington National Cathedral was honored to host the funeral service for Senator John McCain. All funerals and memorial services at the Cathedral are organized by the family of the deceased; only a state funeral for a former president involves consultation with government officials,” a cathedral spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill on Thursday. 

“No funeral at the Cathedral requires the approval of the president or any other government official,” he added. {mosads}

President Trump said on Wednesday in Ohio that he gave McCain “the kind of funeral that he wanted.”

“I gave him the kind of funeral that he wanted, which as president, I had to approve,” he told a crowd at an Ohio event. “I don’t care about this, I didn’t get ‘thank you.’ That’s OK. We sent him on the way, but I wasn’t a fan of John McCain.”

President Trump on John McCain: “I gave him the kind of funeral that he wanted, which as president I had to approve. I don’t care about this. I didn’t get thank you. That’s ok. We sent him on the way, but I wasn’t a fan of John McCain.” pic.twitter.com/hG4XwOiIBO

— CSPAN (@cspan) March 20, 2019 

McCain’s funeral was held at the Washington National Cathedral in September. He was also honored by lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., and the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix.