John McCain memorial: Daughter Meghan lashes out at Donald Trump's 'cheap rhetoric' in heartbreaking eulogy

James Morris2 September 2018

John McCain’s daughter, Meghan, appeared to lambast Donald Trump’s “cheap rhetoric” during a heartbreaking eulogy at his memorial service.

While not naming the US president directly, Ms McCain called her late father “the real thing” and rounded on “men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly”.

Mr McCain, the moderate Republican who stood against Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, was a sharp critic of Mr Trump, who his family asked not to attend his memorial services.

Ms McCain, co-host of US talk show The View, said in a tearful speech at Washington National Cathedral: “I am here before you today saying the words I have never wanted to say. Giving the speech I have never wanted to give. Feeling the loss I have never wanted to feel.

“My father is gone. He was many things: he was a sailor, he was an aviator, he was a husband, he was a warrior, he was a prisoner, he was a Congressman, he was a Senator, he was a nominee for president of the United States.

Meghan McCain, daughter of John McCain, speaks during Saturday's memorial service for her father
AFP/Getty Images

“They are all the titles for the roles of a life that has been well lived, but they are not the greatest of his titles. Nor the most important of his roles.

“He was a great man.”

Appearing to take aim at Mr Trump, Ms McCain continued: “We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness, the real thing. Not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly.

Meghan McCain delivers remarks during the memorial service for her father, John McCain, on Saturday
EPA

“Nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who live lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served.”

Fighting back tears, she added: “He was a great fire who burned bright. In the past few days my family and I have heard from so many of those Americans who stood in the warmth and light of his fire. We are grateful to them because they are grateful to him.”

War hero Mr McCain, who endured five-and-a-half years in captivity in Vietnam and represented Arizona in Congress since 1983, died of brain cancer last week. He was 81.

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