Meghan McCain issued a plea for Americans "to take a collective breath and chill out" in the wake of the media frenzy surrounding funeral preparations for Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., who is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer — "especially" her father's Republican colleague Orrin Hatch — who openly criticized his reported desire for President Donald Trump to not be present at his funeral.
Doctors diagnosed John McCain, 81, with cancer in July of last year after it was determined that a brain tumor called a glioblastoma had caused a blood clot to appear near his left eye. Sources close to the Arizona senator revealed to The New York Times that McCain did not want the president to attend his funeral service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
The influential Republicans have had a contentious relationship ever since Trump's campaign for president. During the 2016 presidential primary, Trump mocked John McCain, who was imprisoned during the Vietnam War for almost six years when he was a member of the U.S. Navy. "He's not a war hero," Trump said of John McCain. "He's a war hero, because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured."
John McCain has reportedly requested that Vice President Mike Pence attend his funeral in Trump's place. Meanwhile, former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush have been asked to eulogize him.
In response, Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, told CNN he thought that John McCain's wish was "ridiculous." "He's the president of the United States," Hatch added. "He's a very good man, but it's up to John."
Hatch also said that he would encourage John McCain "to change his mind, and ask the president to speak at his funeral," according to CNN.
Meghan McCain, who co-hosts "The View," returned to the ABC program Tuesday after spending the weekend in Arizona with her father. She shared that the senator is doing well. "He's just making jokes, talking, standing, doing a great recovery," she said. "He has a great team around him."
"I'd like everybody to take a collective breath and chill out on my dad for a second — especially Orrin Hatch," Meghan McCain added, with some bite to her tone. "Take many seats right now."
Shares