Meghan McCain took a swipe at Donald Trump during an emotional tribute to her father at his memorial service.

Meghan McCain eulogised her father’s death as ‘the passing of American greatness,’ and encouraged others to live up to his example.

Her tearful, impassioned tribute opened the memorial service for John McCain at Washington National Cathedral.

Meghan McCain eulogised her father’s death as ‘the passing of American greatness,’ and encouraged others to live up to his example (Picture: Reuters)

She added:’The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great’ (Picture: AP)

In a comment seemingly aimed at the current President’s campaign slogan, she said: ‘The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great,’ before having to pause when the congregation burst into applause.


She added her father was: ‘The real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who lived lives of comfort and privilege.’

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McCain died on August 25 at the age of 81 after battling a brain tumour for more than a year.



A son and grandson of Naval admirals, McCain also served in the Navy, and served five years in a prisoner of war camp during the Vietnam War.

Meghan paid tribute to her family’s military service, poignantly saying: ‘Somewhere in the great beyond where the warriors go, there are two admirals of the United States meeting their much-loved son.

‘They are telling him he is the greatest among them.’

The congregation burst into applause, causing her to pause (Picture: Reuters)

The McCain family made it clear Donald Trump was not invited, and instead Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner could be seen arriving for the service (Picture: MSNBC)

Barack Obama, a Democrat, and George Bush, a Republican, lead the tributes to McCain following his death last week.

Trump had to be cajoled by fellow Republicans into paying a grudging tribute to his foe.

It took pressure for the President to lower the White House flag to half past and he had to be asked five times by reporters if he had something to say.

Eventually Trump put out this weak statement: ‘Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Senator John McCain’s service to our country and, in his honor, have signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the United States at half staff until the day of his interment.’

McCain’s family made it clear that the president was not invited to today’s service or any of the others held.

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His absence was glaringly obvious as Barack and Michelle Obama, George and Laura Bush, and Bill and Hillary Clinton sat in the front row for the service.

In 2015, Trump caused outrage when he said he was ‘not a war hero.’

He said: ‘He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.’

Meghan is comforted by her mother Cindy as they enter the service (Picture: Reuters)

Trump has previously criticised McCain and said he was ‘not a war hero’ (Picture: AP)

Instead, his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner attended the service.

Mr Kushner and Mrs Trump could be seen greeting other guests inside the cathedral, including McCain’s close friend, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Graham had called Trump’s handling of the events around the Arizona senator’s death ‘disturbing.’

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The administration had lowered the American flag at the White House to half-staff upon McCain’s death on Saturday, but then raised it by Monday.

After public outcry, the White House flags were again lowered.

Today Trump used his free time to fire off a series of tweets complaining about the news media, Canada and the Justice Department.



Just before McCain’s service was set to start, Trump tweeted about the ‘Fake Dossier, attributing a quote to Dan Bongino, who frequently appears on Fox News.’

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