The death of Sen. John McCain , R-Arizona, on Saturday brought with it moving words and displays of admiration and appreciation for his life and service to the country, including the lowering of flags across the nation.

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Of course all eyes were on President Donald Trump to see how he would honor the senator — especially in light of their tense and complicated relationship. While some took issue with the brevity of his tweeted tribute, it was the returning of the White House flag to full staff that saw continued outrage on Monday — two days after the senator died surrounded by family at his home in Arizona.

After calls from veterans groups and other lawmakers to do more, the White House flag was seen being lowered to half-staff again at about 3:45 p.m. local time in Washington, D.C..

Here’s what led to such a high-profile reversal.

How did Trump originally pay tribute to McCain?

The White House indeed lowered the flag to half-staff on the day of McCain’s death and kept it there until just after midnight, early Monday morning, reported CNN. It returned to full-staff on Monday, but the adjustment to lower it again was made later in the afternoon.

Here’s the tweet from Trump sent over the weekend in response to McCain’s death.

The Washington Post reported that a other White House staff advocated for an official statement on McCain’s life and legacy but Trump nixed that suggestion for a short tweet addressed to his family, not saying anything about him specifically.

Here's what Vice President Mike Pence, First Lady Melania Trump and Trump adviser Ivanka Trump said via Twitter on the day McCain died.

How did the situation change on Monday?

Later Monday, the White House flag was seen being lowered to half-staff. The White House released an official proclamation and the president released a statements respecting McCain’s public service and requesting flags remain at half-staff until Sunday.

What does the law say about honoring McCain?

The U.S. legal code actually does outline the way in which the American flag should be used to honor a deceased government official, and it’s very specific. It even goes so far as to require that the flag be hoisted to the peak for an instant before being lowered to half-staff, and then be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day after a half-staff tribute.

Most importantly, it gives the power to the president to make the order for half-staff.

“By order of the president, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States government and the governor of a state, territory or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory,” it says.

Then it outlines the amount of time the flag shall remain at half-staff depending on the title of the government official.

30 days — president or former president

10 days — vice president, chief justice, retired chief justice or speaker of the House of Representatives

From day of death to internment — associate justice of the Supreme Court, a secretary of an executive or military department, a former vice president, or the governor of a state

On the day of death and following day — member of Congress

What is the precedent?

Because the duty of lowering government flags falls to the president, it’s up to him or her to follow the code but other presidents than Trump have gone beyond the minimum requirements it sets.

President Barack Obama signed official proclamations for the deaths of Senators Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts; Robert Byrd , D-West Virginia; and Daniel Inouye , D-Hawaii and the proclamations included instructions to lower flags to half-staff until the day of their burials, according to USA Today.

Some lawmakers and veterans groups were calling for Trump to follow this example.

A spokesperson for Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said on Monday that he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, have requested flags be flown at half-staff.

The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars also released statements calling on Trump to release an official proclamation and keeping the flag at half-staff until McCain’s interment on Sunday.

Some governors of U.S. states were also taking the step to keep flags at half-staff until McCain’s burial.

The New York Times and other outlets are reporting that McCain asked before his death the Trump not attend his funeral. Instead, former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush have been asked to eulogize the senator.

McCain also wrote this public statement to the American people that was released on Monday.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin