Trump Denies Knowing of Directive to Move USS McCain ‘Out of Sight’

President Trump denied knowing about a White House request to move “out of sight” the warship USS John S. McCain during his visit to Japan, but said whoever issued the directive was “well meaning.”

Speaking to reporters Thursday as he left Washington for Colorado, Mr. Trump said of the White House request, which was issued earlier this month: “I didn’t know a thing about it. I would never have done that.”

The president repeated his previous criticisms of the late senator and didn’t apologize for the White House directive, saying instead that the official who directed the warship to be concealed “did it because they thought I didn’t like him.”

“They thought they were doing me a favor because they know I am not a fan of John McCain, ” he said. “I was very angry with John McCain because he killed health care,” he said, referring to a critical vote Mr. McCain cast in 2017 that blocked the GOP effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. “I was not a big fan of John McCain in any way shape or form.”

Mr. McCain died in August at 81 years old from a brain tumor.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that in a May 15 email to U.S. Navy and Air Force officials, a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command official outlined plans for the president’s arrival that he said had resulted from conversations between the White House Military Office and the Seventh Fleet of the U.S. Navy. In addition to instructions for the proper landing areas for helicopters and preparation for the USS Wasp—where the president was scheduled to speak—the official issued a third directive: “USS John McCain needs to be out of sight.”

“Please confirm #3 will be satisfied,” the official wrote.

Acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan was aware of the concern about the presence of the USS John McCain in Japan and approved measures to avoid what officials believed might be a disruption to the president’s visit, a U.S. official said. While traveling in Indonesia on Thursday, Mr. Shanahan said of the concerns: “What I read this morning was the first I heard about it,” he said.