Day 865: Pentagon: White House afraid Trump seeing USS McCain would trigger him

Amid reports that the White House asked the Pentagon to cover up signage on the USS John S. McCain — in addition to giving sailors wearing U.S.S. McCain-branded hats the day off — during Donald Trump’s visit to Japan, Trump feigned ignorance and said no such decree had been given.

Now, Trump’s acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney is actually trying to spin the idea of trying to protect Trump from a boat’s name as normal.

And then the Pentagon confirmed that the White House ordered them to move the boat.

The acting Pentagon chief confirmed Sunday that the White House had requested the hiding of a warship bearing the name of late Senator John McCain during a visit by Donald Trump to Japan.

US media reported that efforts were made to obscure the USS John S. McCain’s name during Trump’s visit to an American military facility last week, accusations denied by acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and the president.

But Shanahan said Sunday that the president’s staff had contacted the Japan-based 7th Fleet of the US Navy and given “the directive that the USS John S McCain should be hidden from view”.

Trump likes to promote himself as a man of strength, despite being a multi-time draft dodger and someone who has routinely cowered on the biggest international stages. Now, even his own staff is concerned about his temperament upon seeing a name on a boat.

865 days in, 597 to go

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