Trump says he did everything the McCain family asked

In an interview withBloomberg NewsOn August 30 - the day of McCain's memorial service in Phoenix, US President Donald Trump said he "did everything" possible for the Arizona Republican senator.

Earlier this week, he was heavily criticized for his decisions and comments surrounding McCain’s death. Most notably, he ordered the White House to rescind a statement expressing condolences for the senator’s passing, as well as canceling the flag-raising ceremony at the White House on August 27. After several US veterans groups called on the US President to come up with a suitable way to honor McCain, Trump approved the decision to fly flags across the country at half-staff.

Senator John McCain passed away at his home in Arizona on the afternoon of August 25 at the age of 81. Before his death, McCain asked former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama to deliver eulogies but did not want Trump to attend his funeral.

Asked if he had missed an opportunity to unite a grieving nation, Trump defended himself. "No, I did nothing wrong. I did everything they asked me to do and I don't think I missed anything," he said.

However, the US President admitted that he and the late Senator McCain had a difficult relationship, including McCain's criticism of Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign and culminating when McCain voted against the Trump administration's effort to repeal and replace the Obamacare health insurance law.

"We have many disagreements and they are very deep," Trump said. "I disagree with many of the positions that he takes."

The two sides continued to be tense even after McCain revealed he had brain cancer last July. Asked whether McCain would be a better president than Obama, who won the senator in the 2008 campaign, Trump did not answer.

"I don't want to comment on this issue. My views are very strong, that's all," he said.