Live Updates
War hero, conservative maverick and two-time presidential candidate Sen. John McCain died Saturday at his home in Arizona at the age of 81.
We’re wrapping up our live coverage, but if you are looking for more on McCain’s life and career, you can …
Senior Russian politicians reacted Sunday to news of the death of Sen. John McCain, describing him as a Cold Warrior who maintained a consistently hard line on Russia during his long political career.
Konstantin Kosachev, the chair of the foreign affairs committee in the Russian senate, described McCain in a Facebook post as a “colorful senator” who was also a “a highly ideologically driven politician.”
Oleg Morozov, another senator, said McCain was “honest in his hatred of Russia,” state news agency RIA-Novosti reported.
“He is the symbol of outspoken anti-Russian thinking, in essence: Russia cannot be anything other than hostile,” Morozov said, according to RIA-Novosti.
Alexey Pushkov, another prominent Russian senator, recalled engaging in a debate with McCain on the Syria crisis at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“He was preoccupied only with regime change in Syria,” Pushkov said on Twitter. “At what cost, and what forces would come to power in Damascus after that did not concern him.”
Russian state television: McCain a “symbol of Russophobia”
Russian state television on Sunday described Sen. John McCain as the “main symbol of Russophobia,” calling the senator an ardent hawk and opponent of Russian national interests.
The Sunday evening edition of the news program Vesti highlighted McCain’s bellicose rhetoric, saying world affairs “would have been even more catastrophic” had he not lost his presidential bid in 2008.
Russian state television also highlighted McCain’s support for pro-democratic revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine, suggesting that the senator sought to contain or encircle Russia.
“Long before the coup in Ukraine, McCain had become the main symbol of Russophobia, calling Russia a bigger threat than ISIS and calling for turning Syria into a second Afghanistan for Russia,” the broadcast stated.
Sarah Palin, who was John McCain’s vice presidential pick when he ran for president in 2008, called the late senator an “American original.”
Here’s her full tribute on Twitter:
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey just announced John McCain’s body will lie in state at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on Wednesday.
Also there will be a service for him in Arizona this week, a Republican close to the McCain family told CNN.
After that, his body will be brought back to Washington.
There, McCain will lie in state at the US Capitol. There will also be a full funeral service for him at the Washington National Cathedral, the Republican said.
Dates for those have not been announced
Following the Washington ceremonies, McCain will be taken to Annapolis, where he will be laid to rest.
CNN reported earlier today that John McCain will lie in state in the US Capitol. Now, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office has confirmed it.
McConnell’s office did not release any details about the timing of the ceremony.
McConnell continued: “The Senate is keeping Cindy, the McCain family, all John’s friends and staff, and the people of Arizona in our prayers at this tremendously difficult time … I appreciate my colleagues and the entire Senate and House family’s assistance with this honor.”
Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer called John McCain one of his “closest friends in the Senate,” while speaking about the late senator at a press conference this morning.
“I am mourning, America is mourning, the world is mourning the loss of one of the truly great men of recent decades. You don’t meet many great men as you go through life, John McCain was one of them for his patriotism, for his strength, for his ability to speak truth to power and for him to do personal acts of kindness, quietly, over and over again. I knew him well, he was one of my closest friends in the Senate.
Schumer announced that he’s introducing a resolution to rename the Senate’s Russell office building after the late Sen. John McCain.
Here’s how he explained what the name change could mean:
“I’d like, decades from now, little children to ask their parents, ‘Who was John McCain?’ and they’ll explain his sacrifice, his patriotism, and most of all his fidelity to do the right thing as he saw it,” Schumer said.
Arizona’s sports teams are paying tribute to Sen. John McCain following his Saturday evening death.
Bleacher Report’s Tyler Conway explained the role sports played in McCain’s life: A boxer in the Naval Academy in the 1950s, McCain was instrumental in the passing of the Muhammad Ali Act, a law designed to protect the health and financial welfare of boxers. He was also a proponent of pardoning former heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, which President Donald Trump did earlier this year.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, which played the Seattle Mariners last night, displayed McCain’s photo on the field during the game. The team also tweeted out this tribute:
The Phoenix Suns shared this statement on McCain:
And the Arizona Cardinals — and one of its players — shared tributes to the late senator.
Flags at the White House have been lowered to half-staff to honor the late Sen. John McCain.
President Trump tweeted his “deepest sympathies and respect” to the family of the senator after his death was announced on Saturday night.
John McCain’s Saturday evening death made the front pages of newspapers across the country.
Here’s the full-page tribute the Arizona Republic in Phoenix ran this morning:
The Arizona Daily Star in Tucson also dedicated the entire front page to McCain:
Here’s how The Washington Post covered the news:
McCain was also featured on the front page of The New York Times:
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey will not announce who he will appoint to serve in John McCain’s seat in the US Senate until after McCain is buried, out of respect for the senator and his family, according to Ducey’s office.
Here’s the statement from the governor’s office:
“Out of respect for the life and legacy of Senator John McCain and his family, Governor Ducey will not be making any announcements about an appointment until after the Senator is laid to rest. Now is a time for remembering and honoring a consequential life well lived.”
Jack McCain, Sen. John McCain’s son, praised the late senator as a “giant.”
“It is not the man that was great, but instead it was his desire to serve a cause greater than himself that defined his life,” McCain’s son wrote.
It’s not just Americans who are waking up to news of Sen. John McCain’s passing.
News featuring the Arizona Republican’s death was spotted earlier this morning displayed on an informational panel at Munich’s central train station.
The announcement of McCain’s death came at around 2 a.m. in Germany — too late for most print edition newspapers — but clearly the 2008 Republican presidential nominee’s influence and profile reached around the world.
Sen. John McCain told CNN’s Jake Tapper in their last interview how he wanted the American people to remember him after his death.
Tapper asked: “How do you want the American people to remember you?”
McCain responded: “He served his country … I hope, we could add, honorably.”
Watch:
As the nation mourns the passing of Sen. John McCain, President Trump started his day on Twitter by retweeting himself.
The President chose two Aug. 24th tweets criticizing Attorney General Jeff Sessions and reshared them to his 54M followers.
The retweets occurred sometime after he tweeted his “deepest sympathies and respect” last night.
See the tweets:
CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash remembered Sen. John McCain earlier this morning, and thanked him for teaching her an important lesson about life as a reporter on Capitol Hill.
“I want to say thank you, John McCain,” Bash said. “Thank you for teaching reporters like me, who followed you around for a living, how to be serious, without taking ourselves too seriously.”
Watch:
Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, who served alongside Sen. John McCain as the state’s junior senator, teared up while remembering his colleague on CNN this morning.
“Its tough. I’m going to miss him,” Flake said, visibly emotional after host Jake Tapper replayed footage of McCain praising Flake on the Senate floor after the then-junior Arizona senator announced his decision not to run for reelection.
“I’ve admired him my entire life and its tough to imagine a Senate without him, it’s tough to imagine politics without John McCain, but we need to go on,” Flake said.
Flake said that he was there with McCain on Friday to say goodbye, and to thank McCain’s family.
Watch:
Americans are laying flowers at a monument in Hanoi, Vietnam, marking the 1967 crash site of then-Navy pilot John McCain, who was shot down during the Vietnam War.
After McCain leaves Arizona, he will lie in state in the US Capitol this week, confirms a Republican source with knowledge of the plans, who also says a service will be held at the National Cathedral.
The source says McCain will then have a private service in Annapolis.
CNN’s Jeff Zeleny reported yesterday that that McCain wanted three locations for services: Arizona, the National Cathedral in Washington, and Annapolis.
A formal schedule has not been released.
President Trump’s Instagram account features a photo of the President along with the same words he tweeted last night: “My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!” Critics in the comments and on Twitter point out it features no picture of McCain himself, questioning the President’s motives for omitting the Senator.
Sen. John McCain, a war hero, conservative maverick and two-time presidential candidate, died Saturday at his home in Arizona. He was 81.
We’re wrapping up our live coverage, but if you’re looking for more on McCain’s life and career, you can…
Former Vice President Joe Biden remembered his friend, Sen. John McCain, as having lived a life that showed character, courage, integrity and honor.
Biden has said McCain took care of his son, Beau. Biden’s son was also diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. He died in 2015.
“America will miss John McCain. The world will miss John McCain. And I will miss him dearly,” Biden said.
Read his full statement:
“John McCain’s life is proof that some truths are timeless. Character. Courage. Integrity. Honor. A life lived embodying those truths casts a long, long shadow. John McCain will cast a long shadow. His impact on America hasn’t ended. Not even close. It will go on for many years to come. As a POW, John endured the worst of what human beings can do to one another. In politics, he fell short of his greatest ambition. At the end of his life he faced a cruel and relentless disease. And yet through it all he never lost sight of what he believed most: Country First. And the spirit that drove him was never extinguished: we are here to commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves. John was many things – a proud graduate of the Naval Academy, a Senate colleague, a political opponent. But, to me, more than anything, John was a friend. America will miss John McCain. The world will miss John McCain. And I will miss him dearly. On behalf of myself, Jill, and the entire Biden family, our sincerest condolences go out to Cindy, Doug, Andy, Sidney, Meghan, Jack, Jimmy, Bridget, and the entire McCain family.
Sen. John McCain commemorated the 50th anniversary of his Vietnam War capture in October.
He recalled details of his ordeal in a Facebook message and video featuring archival news footage and photos, along with recollections from fellow prisoners of war.
When was he captured? In 1967. He held in the infamous detention facility known as the “Hanoi Hilton” for more than five years, where he was repeatedly tortured. He was released in March 1973.
“Hard to believe 50 years ago today my A-4 Skyhawk was shot down over North Vietnam,” McCain wrote the Facebook post. “The great honor of my life was to serve in the company of heroes in Vietnam, Americans whose comradery, bravery and resilience in the face of tremendous hardship inspired us to resist our captors and find strength and hope even in the darkest of hours.”
Sen. John McCain returned to Washington and delivered a dramatic vote on the GOP’s Obamacare repeal bill, only 11 days after undergoing brain surgery.
His vote came in on the wee hours of July 28. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell needed 50 votes to repeal the bill. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins had already voted against the so-called skinny repeal bill.
All eyes were on McCain, who instructed them to “watch the show.”
What happened next? McCain walked over to the front of the chamber, raised his right arm and held it up in the air until he had the attention of the clerk.
“No,” he said, with a swift thumbs-down.
McCain later said he rejected the bill because he believed the legislative process was flawed.
Watch the moment:
Former President George W. Bush described Sen. John McCain as “a man of deep conviction” in a statement tonight.
“He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom I’ll deeply miss,” he said.
Read his full statement:
“Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom I’ll deeply miss. Laura and I send our heartfelt sympathies to Cindy and the entire McCain family, and our thanks to God for the life of John McCain.”
Former President George H. W. Bush released a statement on Sen. John McCain’s death, calling him a “patriot of the highest order, a public servant of rarest courage.”
Read Bush’s full statement below:
“John McCain was a patriot of the highest order, a public servant of rarest courage. Few sacrificed more for, or contributed more to, the welfare of his fellow citizens – and indeed freedom love people around the world. Another American maverick and warrior, General George Patton, once observed: ‘We should thank God that men such as these have lived.’ To that I can only add my gratitude to John’s wife Cindy, his wonderful family, and the people of Arizona who permitted this great and good man to serve with such distinction in the world’s greatest deliberative body.”
World leaders took to Twitter to share their condolences and remember Sen. John McCain’s legacy.
Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau said McCain’s sacrifices and public service inspired millions of people.
Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison described McCain as a “man of great courage and conviction.”
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon mourned the loss of an “American hero.”
Gov. John Kasich called Sen. John McCain “an iconic American hero, patriot and statesman without compare.”
Sharing a photo of himself with McCain alongside a statement in a tweet, Kasich said he will “miss his straight talk and unfailing good humor, his steadfast resolve and absolute devotion to public service.”
Vice President Mike Pence took to Twitter to send condolences to Sen. John McCain’s family.
“We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers,” Pence said.
Read his tweet:
Dr. Kelli Ward, who’s running to fill Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake’s seat, said Sen. John McCain’s “decades of service will not be forgotten by the men and women of Arizona.”
Ward has been critical of McCain as she campaigns for Flake’s seat.
Sen. John McCain was a naval bomber pilot, prisoner of war, conservative maverick, giant of the Senate, twice-defeated presidential candidate and an abrasive American hero with a twinkle in his eye.
The following current and former defense officials remembered McCain’s fighting spirit and dedication to public service. Here’s what they said:
Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
“Senator McCain exemplified what it means to be a warrior and dedicated public servant. Both as a naval officer and as a member of Congress, he was a lifelong and tireless advocate for the men and women of the U.S. military. He traveled the world to meet personally with Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, to hear what they had to say, and to see firsthand our military in action on the front lines. Senator McCain recognized the sacrifice and hardships military members and their families can experience and proudly served as their champion in Congress. He visited our nation’s wounded warriors around the country to offer encouragement and to thank them for their service. Through his tenacious and selfless leadership in the Senate, he fought hard to ensure our Armed Forces remained strong and had the support and resources needed to succeed when placed in harm’s way. While we mourn Senator McCain’s passing, we are eternally grateful for his distinguished service to our nation, his advocacy of the U.S. military, and the incredible example he set for us all.”
Defense Secretary James Mattis
“We have lost a man who steadfastly represented the best ideals of our country. As a Naval Officer and defiant prisoner of war, John McCain stood with his brothers-in-arms until they returned home together. Passionately committed to our country, Senator McCain always put service to the Nation before self. He recognized that for our experiment in democracy to long endure, people of action and passion must serve. In this he represented what he believed, that “a shared purpose does not claim our identity—on the contrary, it enlarges your sense of self. His was a life well lived, one whose actions epitomized the motto of his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy: non sibi, sed patriae—“not for self, but for country. On behalf of all of the men and women of the Department of Defense, we will remain forever grateful for the life, the passion, and the example of Senator John McCain. Our sympathy and kindest wishes are with Cindy and his family.”
Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates
“No one in modern times had greater physical and political courage defending the United States and its values than John McCain. A true American hero has left us. During my years as Secretary of Defense, Senator McCain and I were usually allies, occasionally not. But I never doubted on any issue that he sought an outcome that was best for our country. For his entire career, the national interest consistently outweighed political, parochial and personal interest. John McCain was a great American whose legacy of patriotic service will long outlive him. In these difficult times, we will greatly miss his integrity and his courage.”
Here are several photographs of John McCain throughout his life and career in the Senate.
Sen. John McCain, his son, Jack McCain, and his wife, Cindy McCain, attend a baseball game in Arizona in 2009.
McCain and his daughter, Meghan McCain, at the 100th Annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in 2014.
McCain ran for president with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin against Barack Obama in 2009.
Here’s McCain, chair for the Senate Armed Services Committee, during a Nov. 2 confirmation hearing for the secretary of the US Army.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren shared a photo of Sen. John McCain while paying tribute to his “courage and conviction.”
Sen. Orrin Hatch joined the “millions mourning” McCain’s death.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called it a “privilege to serve beside John in the Senate.”
Sen. Tim Scott hailed McCain as “an American Hero.”
A procession of SUVs and a black hearse just left the home of Sen. John McCain in Sedona.
McCain died earlier this afternoon at his home. He was surrounded by his wife, Cindy, and his family.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement saying “today is a deeply sad day for the Senate and for our nation.” McConnell called McCain a “statesman who put his country first.”
“It’s an understatement to say the Senate will not be the same without our friend John,” McConnell said.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remembered Sen. John McCain as a skilled politician, who “frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country.”
“He was a skilled, tough politician, as well as a trusted colleague alongside whom Hillary was honored to serve in the Senate,” they said in a statement.
Read their statement:
“Senator John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day. He was a skilled, tough politician, as well as a trusted colleague alongside whom Hillary was honored to serve in the Senate. He frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country, and was never afraid to break the mold if it was the right thing to do. I will always be especially grateful for his leadership in our successful efforts to normalize relations with Vietnam. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Cindy, his mother, Roberta, his children, and his entire family.”
Former President Jimmy Carter released a statement extending condolences to Sen. John McCain’s family and the people of Arizona “whom he represented so forthrightly for so many years.”
Read Carter’s full statement here:
“John McCain was a man of honor, a true patriot in the best sense of the word. Americans will be forever grateful for his heroic military service and for his steadfast integrity as a member of the United States Senate. Rosalynn and I extend our sincere condolences to Senator McCain’s family and to the people of Arizona whom he represented so forthrightly for so many years.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer announced he will introduce a resolution to rename the Russell office building after Sen. John McCain.
The Senate minority leader remembered McCain as a great person, saying he was “never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare.”
Moments ago, the White House flag was lowered to half-staff in honor of Sen. John McCain, who died this afternoon in Arizona.
First lady Melania Trump also shared her condolences on Twitter:
The Speaker of the House mourned the loss of the “decorated war hero and statesman,” calling McCain “one of the most courageous men of the century.”
Read Ryan’s full statement:
This is a sad day for the United States. Our country has lost a decorated war hero and statesman. John McCain was a giant of our time—not just for the things he achieved, but for who he was and what he fought for all his life. John put principle before politics. He put country before self. He was one of the most courageous men of the century. He will always be listed among freedom’s most gallant and faithful servants. Our hearts are with his wife, Cindy, his children, and his grandchildren. This Congress, this country mourn with them.
Former President Barack Obama remembered Sen. John McCain’s dedication to the nation.
“We saw this country as a place where anything is possible – and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way,” he said in a statement.
Read Obama’s full statement:
“John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher – the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible – and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way. Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John’s best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our most heartfelt condolences to Cindy and their family.”
Sen. John McCain’s former running mate in the 2008 presidential election called him a “maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs.”
The Democratic senator from Illinois shared her condolences for John McCain on Twitter.
Cindy McCain took to Twitter to express her sorrow over the death of her husband Sen. John McCain.
“My heart is broken,” she tweeted. “I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years.”
Read her tweet:
GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, a friend and sidekick of Sen. John McCain, said America lost one of “her greatest champions.”
Sen. John McCain had been planning his own funeral services over the last year, often discussing the plans with close friends who visited his Arizona ranch.
Two people close to McCain said he wanted three locations for services: Arizona, National Cathedral in Washington, and Annapolis.
President Trump, as we and others reported earlier this summer, isn’t invited. That was made clear in a message from the family through General Kelly.
This remains his wish, two family friends said today.
McCain’s decline came fairly suddenly. A close group of friends were planning to be with him next Wednesday on his 82nd birthday, but they were told Wednesday he wouldn’t make it that long.
President Trump just tweeted about the death of Sen. John McCain.
Here’s what he said:
Meghan McCain, Sen. John McCain’s daughter, just released a statement about her father’s death.
Read her statement below:
Before John McCain became a senator, he spent an early part of his life in the Navy.
Here’s a look at some of the major milestones in McCain’s military and political career:
John McCain, Arizona senator and former Republican presidential candidate, has died at the age of 81.
“Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 pm on August 25, 2018. With the Senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family,” his office said in a statement. “At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years.”
