Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) on Monday asked members of President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump mocks wind power: 'When the wind doesn't blow, just turn off the television' Pentagon investigator probing whether acting chief boosted former employer Boeing Trump blasts McCain, bemoans not getting 'thank you' for funeral MORE's Cabinet to lower the flags outside their respective department buildings to half staff to honor the late Sen. John McCain
John Sidney McCainTrump blasts McCain, bemoans not getting 'thank you' for funeral Trump's approval rating stable at 45 percent GOP senator: Trump's criticism of McCain 'deplorable' MORE (R-Ariz.) after White House flags returned to full staff.
Lieu tweeted the same message at three Cabinet officials who served in the military: Secretary of Defense James Mattis
James Norman MattisPentagon watchdog probing whether acting chief boosted Boeing Overnight Defense: Judge says Trump can't implement transgender policy | Trump floats admitting Brazil to NATO | Mattis returning to Stanford Mattis returning to Stanford months after Pentagon resignation MORE, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoPompeo presses for resolution to Gulf dispute The Hill's Morning Report - Trump, Dems put manufacturing sector in 2020 spotlight State Department blocks reporters from Pompeo briefing with faith-based media: report MORE and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke
Ryan Keith ZinkeOvernight Energy: EPA moves to raise ethanol levels in gasoline | Dems look to counter White House climate council | Zinke cleared of allegations tied to special election Zinke cleared of violating federal rules tied to Pennsylvania special election Overnight Energy: Trump unveils 2020 budget | Plan slashes funds for EPA, Interior and Energy | Interior request highlights border security MORE.
"You served on active duty. As a nation mourns McCain, it would be appropriate to lower the flag to half staff at all @StateDept buildings. I respectfully request you give that order, regardless of the views of @realDonaldTrump. It is the honorable thing to do," Lieu tweeted, sending a separate message to each Cabinet official.
Dear @SecPompeo: You served on active duty. As a nation mourns McCain, it would be appropriate to lower the flag to half staff at all @StateDept buildings. I respectfully request you give that order, regardless of the views of @realDonaldTrump. It is the honorable thing to do. https://t.co/yIllKANhMq
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 27, 2018
Dear @SecretaryZinke: You served on active duty. As a nation mourns McCain, it would be appropriate to lower the flag to half staff at all @Interior buildings. I respectfully request you give that order, regardless of the views of @realDonaldTrump. It is the honorable thing to do https://t.co/HnxooCDRfP
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 27, 2018
Dear #SecDef: You served on active duty. As a nation mourns McCain, it would be appropriate to lower the flag to half staff at all @DeptofDefense buildings. I respectfully request you give that order, regardless of the views of @realDonaldTrump. It is the honorable thing to do. https://t.co/KSHnUuYPPc
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 27, 2018
Flags at the White House returned to full staff early Monday, less than 48 hours after McCain died.
Several reporters and commentators quickly noted that flags in the past have remained lowered to honor lawmakers and major public figures until their funerals.
Joe Heim, a Washington Post reporter, posted a photo on Twitter showing that the flag outside the Department of Energy remained at half staff on Monday morning, while the flag just down the road at the Department of Agriculture was back at full staff.
Even the cabinet is closed confused about honoring McCain. Flag at Energy is half staff. At Agriculture, across the street, flag is at full staff. pic.twitter.com/gs0fr85kcr
— Joe Heim (@JoeHeim) August 27, 2018
McCain died Saturday at age 81 a little more than a year after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Even after his diagnosis, he remained one of Trump's most outspoken Republican critics.
McCain reportedly did not want Trump to attend his funeral, instead requesting that former Presidents Obama and George W. Bush deliver eulogies.
During the 2016 campaign, Trump ridiculed McCain's status as a war hero. In recent months, Trump has regularly chided McCain over his decision to vote against a GOP effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, effectively killing the measure.
Trump reportedly nixed a draft statement from the White House calling McCain a "hero" after the senator's death. Trump instead issued a tweet offering his sympathies to McCain's family.
A number of other administration officials issued their own statements via Twitter, including Pompeo, Vice President Pence, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway
Kellyanne Elizabeth ConwayTrump doesn't share values of Jewish community, says Dem Jewish advocate Kellyanne Conway defends Trump: Husband isn't a psychiatrist Trump: George Conway 'a whack job' MORE and Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani.
McCain, a former naval aviator, is scheduled to lie in the Arizona Capitol on Wednesday and then the U.S. Capitol on Friday. He will be buried at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., on Sunday.
