Barack Obama leads tributes to 'warrior' John McCain at memorial service

James Morris2 September 2018

Former US presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush led tributes to "warrior" John McCain at his memorial service.

Democrat Mr Obama, who stood against Republican Mr McCain in the 2008 presidential election, said he “embodied the best of America”.

His speech followed a heartbreaking eulogy by daughter Meghan McCain, who also appeared to lash out at Donald Trump’s “cheap rhetoric”.

Mr Obama said during Saturday's service, at Washington National Cathedral: “We come to celebrate an extraordinary man, a warrior, a statesman, a patriot who embodied so much that is best in America."

Noting Mr McCain was a conservative politician, Mr Obama added “he did understand that some principles transcend politics, that some values transcend party”.

Barack Obama delivers remarks during John McCain's memorial service at Washington National Cathedral
EPA

Mr Obama praised Mr McCain, who had represented Arizona in Congress since 1983, for opposing "bending the truth to suit political expediency or party orthodoxy" and as a proponent of a "free and independent press".

He spoke after Mr Bush, who successfully stood against Mr McCain in the 2000 Republican primary. He summed up: “He made us better presidents.”

Mr Bush had hailed Mr McCain's "combination of courage and decency" in a eulogy that touched on the state of the nation's politics under Donald Trump.

George W. Bush speaks during a memorial service for John McCain at Washington National Cathedral
AFP/Getty Images

The president between 2000 and 2008 said Mr McCain "detested the abuse of power" and added: “To the face of those in authority, John McCain would insist that we are better than this, America is better than this."

Noting Mr McCain's time as a prisoner of war for five-and-a-half years in Vietnam, Mr Bush said Mr McCain "loved freedom with the passion of a man who knew its absence".

Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner were among the highest-ranking White House officials attending after Mr McCain's family made it clear that Mr Trump was not invited.

He had been routinely criticised over his military record by the US president, who spent time ahead of the service tweeting out a series of long-standing grievances about the news media, Canada and the justice department.

John McCain pictured in 2017
EPA

The Arizona senator had asked Mr Obama and Mr Bush to speak at the service to highlight the bridge-building that he espoused.

Mr Kushner and Ms Trump could be seen greeting other guests inside the cathedral, including McCain's close friend, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.

The family of John McCain watch as the casket is carried down the steps of the US Capitol in Washington
AP

During the procession to the cathedral, the hearse stopped at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where Mr McCain's wife Cindy placed a wreath.

Mr McCain died of brain cancer last week. He was 81. He will be buried on Sunday.

Reporting by agencies.

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