any reaction to the american legion? tion to the american legion after a proclamation about john mccain? why won't you say anything about john mccain? >> that was earlier in the day. then the president reportedly gave in after a stern public statement from the american legion. the national commander said his two million members would strongly urge you to make an appropriate presidential proclamation. then the white house soon lowered the flag to half staff and the president signed a proclamation which begins, despite our differences on policy and politics, i respect senator john mccain's service to our country. it goes on to ask the vice president to speak at mccain's ceremony with top advisors, kelly, mattis and bolton to attend. at a dinner with evangelical leaders trump led a brief appreciation. >> our hearts and prayers are going to the family of senator john mccain. there's going to be a lot of activity over the next number of days, and we very much appreciate everything that will senator mccain has done for our coun

any reaction to the american legion? any reaction to the american legion can go asking you to make a proclamation to john mccain? what would you say about john mccain? >> let's go. out. >> let's go to the white house and jeremy diamond. jeremy 0 for 3 at least on opportunities with cameras in the president's face. nothing. what's with the disconnect at the white house. >> we are actually now at 0 for 5, brooke. on five separate occasions today the president was asked about senator john mccain, given an opportunity to offer his tribute to the long-serving senator, former prisoner of war, american hero in the eyes of many. and the president declined to answer those questions, ignoring them instead, staying silent as senator mccain's name was mentioned time and again during multiple press opportunities just today. the president has yet to say anything, in fact, about senator john mccain. he put out a tweet after the senator's passing offering his symposium sympathies to mcgregor cane's family. but that is all we have heard f

american hero. but this was the president's response to john mccain, this was it. the american legion sent a letter midday to president urging him to follow long established protocol following the death of prominent government officials and praising mccain as a hero. one hour later trusted mccain aide rick davis read a final statement from the senator to the country he served a loved. the am president had several more opportunities to speak about the senator and again ignored questions. >> mr. president, do you have any thoughts about john mccain? do you have any thoughts at all about john mccain? do you believe john mccain was a hero, sir? nothing at all about john mccain? okay. any reaction from the american league proclamation about john mccain? why won't you say anything about john mccain? >> thank you very much. >> okay, late in the afternoon president trump finally buckled. the white house flag was lowered to half staff, and a short time later as the american legion implored the white house issued a presidential proclamation saying, quote, despite our differences on policy and p

. >> the american legion has asked you to lower the flag to half-staff. any reaction to the american legion? >> press, let's go, make your way out. press, let's go. we're finished. let's go. >> thank you very much. >> mr. president, any comment on john mccain, sir? mr. president, why won't you call john mccain a hero, sir? >> so, shortly after his final nonanswer, the president did offer a statement, reading in part, quote, despite our differences on policy and politics, i respect senator john mccain's service to our country and in his honor have signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the united states at half-staff until the day of his internment. now, to be clear, the president's statement is hardly effusive in its praise, but it is something. and had it been his first and last word on the subject, chances are we wouldn't even be talking about it. the president, after all, did not like senator mccain, famously so, nor did the senator have many good things to say about the president. that said, just as there is a tradition of lowering the flag at times

president trump is not invited and only under enormous pressure and after a scolding from the american legion does he issue a proclamation and order the white house flag lowered to half staff. replacing a maverick. the loss of senator mccain means arizona's governor will pick someone to fill the seat. who will be picked to hold it through 2020? >>> understanding. president trump invited the world to watch him on a clumsy conference call with the president of mexico to announce a new trade deal. mexico calls it an understanding and so far, canada is not in the mix. will congress sign off on a new deal? >>> video game killing. a video game competition in florida turns deadly when a competitor opens fire, killing two and wounding dozens of others before killing himself. it's captured on live stream. i'm wolf blitzer, you are in the "situation room." >>> announcer: this is cnn breaking news. >>> breaking news as americans mourn senator john mccain, the maverick republican leaves behind a farewell statement, urging them to live up to the nation's ideals and not sink into tribal rivalries. presiden

the american legion will be at the forefront of pushing for veterans rights and even though it did suffersm and to some extent classicism within its ranks, the american legion is at the forefront of drawing attention to what we would call ptsd today. so, they do kind of raise the issue of disability rights, so on the one hand, they do create these veterans rights movements with a very nationalist tinge, admittedly, but to a lesser extent, disability rights because they are highlighting the disabilities the veterans acquired while at the front. they do, however, shy away from equating those disabilities with civilian disabilities because they believe that would undermine kind of the value of the veterans' sacrifice. so, that is a limited -- must be admitted it's a limited advocation of disability rights but nonetheless, even putting it out there, it gets the idea of disability rights into the mainstream, even if it is in this modified way. and with that in mind, two things. memorialization of the war. above, you have the gold star mothers. that is the gun and they still persist to today. g

president, the american legion's asked you to lower the flags to half-staff. any reaction to the american legion? any reaction -- >> let's go. press, let's go. >> -- about john monccain. >> why won't you say anything about john mccain? >> gene, the smallness is, of course -- it's, of course unrivaled. >> yes. >> first of all. secondly, the -- i don't know what word to use. stupidity? i don't know that you use stupidity against a man that ran through a field's 16 republicans and then beat hillary clinton for president of the united states, derangement? too many words attached to derangement. too many meanings attached to derangement, but donald trump should have known what any other adult in donald trump's position there would have known. >> uh-huh. >> which is by doing what he did yesterday, he did nothing but elevate john mccain even more. mccain was laughing at the gates of st. peter all day yesterday, or if he decided to take a detour and raise a little hell, he had loose feucifer winking a saying, that's pretty good. you really set that sucker up. mccain ha

silence, president trump mentions the passing of senator john mccaini rowing pressure from the american legionnd other groups. >> a red laser targeted the victims at the gaming mass shooting. >>> meet the teacher who went above and well beyond the classroom to help out a former student and her young son. >>> you're getting a heart. congratulations. >> i'm getting a heart, mom. stkpwhrrs a fantastic follow up to t>>l you about. > if you're having a little trouble getting moving this morning, ought to help. "early today" starts right now. >>> good morn upbg. i'm philip mena. >> this morning 50 million are in theat of excessive heat and portions of the midwest. there issall are ready the possibility of severe thunderstorms. ohio is just one of the many hot spots are temperatures have soared. schools shut dn early due to intense heat over the next 24 hours. let's go to nbc meteorologist bill karins with the latest. stkpwhrrs when you get the kids back in school,cahe heat waves be dangerous. 60 million people as we phpbgzed. and saeu stst. louis, hartford and too. and rurtsz not just the northeast

people are paying their respects at the american legion post just outside sedona and miles away from mccain's ranch. what are the people there saying to you about the life and legacy of senator mccain? >> reporter: thank you, kristen. it was a very difficult night for the american legion just down the road from senator mccain's ranch. it was there the veterans first learned the news. there was a moment of shock, a moment of emptiness, and one by one, those veterans started sharing stories about john mccain. >> he was one of a kind. >> reporter: throughout the night, memories of affection. >> he's definitely going to be somebody that's hard to replace. >> reporter: somebody recalling the news reports of half a century ago when they first heard of the navy fighter pilot shot down and took captive. >> he was not only a prisoner of war, not only was he bayonetted when he crash landed, he could have gotten out a lot earlier and he chose to stay in that prison. >> that's john mccain. he never faltered. never. >> reporter: it was from here that the maverick took his fights to washington. >>

attend as well and hear what they had to say. >> reporter: there are nearly 2 million members of the american legionhose members was senator john mccain. >> i think john mccain was one of the greatest heroes this country has ever seen. >> reporter: here in minneapolis at the 100th annual american legion convention, you hear that sentiment over and over again from these wartime veterans who in many if not most cases voted for and support president donald trump. glen whitaker is an army veteran seriously wounded at ft. benning, georgia, in a grenade blast during the vietnam war era. he strongly supports the president. >> do you think, though, that president trump was disrespectful to john mccain, particularly in his dying days? >> yes. yes. >> how did that make you feel as a veteran, as someone wounded for this country? >> because we are family. >> reporter: many of the veterans here are emotionally pained how a president who for the most part admire acted towards john mccain. >> who here believes that john mccain was a hero? does anyone believe he wasn't a hero? no hands. so when you heard president

president, refusing to lower the flag, refusing all of those opportunities, and only yielding after the american legion, the veterans of foreign wars, and other groups spoke out so strongly against what he was doing in the aftermath of the death of john mccain, a period of national mourning. >> absolutely, andrea. and, you know, it's very difficult to explain. i think the way to start perhaps is just to look at how president trump reacts to things like this. his animosity for mccain was extremely well-known and he did not back down from that even in death, which drew a lot of criticism from people who knew senator mccain and who know president trump. it was very unusual yesterday to be here at the white house and to see the flag not at half-staff. i can tell you, just having spoken to some other white house officials about it yesterday, before the flag was taken down again, people around him were just sheepish about it and not wanting to talking about it. i think it created embarrassment at the white house for people who work for the president because of how he reacted. >> and also for republicans in t

this came after the head of the american legion released a statement to the president saying on behalf of the group's 2 million wartime veterans, i strongly urge you to make an appropriate proclamation noting his service and legacy to the nation. pore mr. trump, it is -- for mr. trump, it is a continuation of assaults on the former prisoner of war. >> he is a war hear ee -- hero because he was captured. i like people that weren't captured. >> reporter: he referred to the bone spurs that kept the president out of vietnam. >> one aspect of the conflict i will never, ever count is that we drafted the lowest income level of america and highest level, found a doctor would say they had a bone spur. that is wrong. >> reporter: the president nursed a grudge for voting against the gop effort to repeal obamacare, a memorable thumb's down. >> we had a gentleman late into the morning hours go thumb's down. that was not a good thing he did. that was not a good thing for our people, for our country, whether you're democrat or republican. >> reporter: in stark contrast with her father, ivanka praised

president, the american legion's asked you to lower the flag to half-staff. any reaction to the american liegen? >> make your way out, let's go. >> any reaction to the american legion and the proclamation about john mccain? >> going that way, go that way. >> katelyn huey burns, he wouldn't say anything about john mccain. do we know anything about what led to ultimately him at least seeming to be reading a brief statement about john mccain -- >> right, 48 hours after the senator's death. remember, the senator's family released a statement on friday saying he was ending treatment. so the white house had ample time to prepare for this. and this is representative of course of that long-standing grudge that the president has with this. there have been reporting that many people in the white house were upset with this. and wanted of course the news coverage yesterday was all about trump's refusal at that point to lower the flags or say anything in his honor. and the narrative was beco becoming -- the story was becoming about trump. which even in this day and age, re

and then, the american legion called on the president to lower the white house flag again. i asked the president about that -- still no answer. why won't you say anything about john mccain? and tonight, a reversa president, ordering the flag to be lowered once more, saying, quote, despite our differences on policy and politics, i respect senator john mccain's service to our country. >> all right, so, let's get to jon karl live at the white house. and jon, the flag at the white house had been lowered to half-staff at the news of senator mccain's passing, then raised again, even as flags across the capitol remain lowered. now tonight, as you just reported, it's been lowered again amid this pressure. what's going on here? who's behind this? and what are your sources telling you? >> reporter: well, the president was under enormous pressure, particularly after the vfw and the american legion, these are groups that represent millions of veterans, came out calling on the president to issue a proclamation on mccain and to lower the flag. they were under enormous pressure to do so.

i think the american legion makes a very sal id point. why talk about the parade?ll about trump. to promote his image and also to please his base. i mean, obviously $92 million seems like an awfully big amount -- amount of money for a parade. i think it's better if we don't do it. >> 92 is an estimate floating around out there. the city was about to charge $20.6 million and then a breakdown and i'm no expert and it looked reasonable to me. thousands of people for a parade, potentially millions. >> i think this demonstrates the efficiency of the d.c. government. i'd like to applaud them for saving the taxpayers $97 million or $21 million. nobody really wanted it. the pentagon didn't want it. and the american people didn't seem to want it. the only person that wanted it seemed to be donald trump and the ego. i sense a theme. i appreciate the d.c. government saving me as a taxpayer money at the expense of donald trump's ego. >> i agree. having said that, there was interest in the department of defense to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first world war and imp

president, the american legions asked you to lower the flags to half-staff. any reaction to the american legion? >> make your way out. >> thank you. >> it's over. come out. >> any proclamation about john mccain. why won't you say anything about john mccain? >> reporter: the flag was lowered after the order came out from the white house around 4:00 p.m. yesterday. it took a little longer at the pentagon, but eventually it came down there, as well. what we should watch for at this press conference that's taking place now at the pentagon is how do secretary mattis and chairman dunford raise the man mccain without running crosswise to the president they serve. they always have apentagon. today is no different. hallie? >> we are watching that live press briefing with secretary of defense james mattis. hans nichols, thank you much. we'll turn around any news from him as we get it. stick with us. >>> msnbc's garrett haake is over on capitol hill. we are hearing from lawmakers, particularly those close to mccain, and especially lind dse graham, who was on the "today"

tell me the reasons why members of the legion say there are better ways to spend money than parades. >> the american legion represents two million of our veterans. these are dues-paying members at 12,000 posts. we were founded by returning world war i veterans so we are keenly focused on taking care of the injured and ill, looking after the widows and orphans of the fallen. when you look at discretionary money within the federal budget, we'd rather see a fully funded department of veterans affairs first and then drive on from there. >> and $90 million won't even come close. people forget the veterans affairs department is huge. it's a massive, massive department. there are 33,000 staff openings at the department of veterans affairs right now. and you have some very serious issues. >> that's just within the veterans health administration side of the business. there's three departments within the va. the one that we're most focused on is the one that delivers health care benefits to veterans. by the va's own estimation, there are over 33,000 job vacancies, and these are health care providers, doctors,

today, following a letter from the american legion, the white house reversed course. the president issued a proclamation to keep the flags lowered in mccain's on her. >> a big heart and of course, a fiery spirit. >> we can try, as he didput cou >> reporter: at the white house on monday, the flag after being lowered for two days, was raised back to full staff. the american legion noticed and called the white house. >> the news came as a blow to all of us. >> we have seen different administrations take different interpretations of that. when barbara bush died, the flag was at half staff for four days. >> reporter: later on, the president issued a statement that said, i respect john mccain's service to our country and in his honor i have signed a proclamation to fly the flag at half staff until the day of his internment. >> we appreciate everything senator mccain have done -- has done for the country. >> reporter: fox news confirmed that the president decided against releasing an official statement calling mccain an bee for a statement. >> president, any thoughts on john

the "american legion" sent a letter to the president saying mccain served honorably. they said they have not received a response back but we hope it will be in agreement. the "american legion" in the letter pointing out that the president issued a proclamation to lower for an extended period of time the flags for the passing of barbara bush and billy graham. shep? >> shepard: official statements from the white house have been the norm the last 30 years that i've been watching such things. it's my understanding that some of his closest advisers said we need to do this. >> yeah. the suggestion made to the president that in addition to the brief tweet that he sent out, that they put out in an official white house statement, john kelly supported it as did sarah huckabee sanders, other aides. they wanted to recognize his long service to the nation in the congress as well as his service to the nation in the military. his hero status that was conferred to him for surviving five years in a north vietnamese prison. the president who has probably had more bad blood with john mcc

the american legion, which represents 2 million american veterans weighed in. >> at the core of our soul veterans. and we still have servicemen and women who come over injured and kill from service overseas and we believe the money is best spent taking care of them. >> according to the latest defense spending bill said he wasn't aware of any $92 million estimate and insulted journalists who wrote it. >> i don't know who wrote it. but i guarantee you, there's been no cost estimate. whoever told you that is probably smoking something that's legal in my state but not in most states, okay? >> reporter: but cnn was told by an administration official that the $92 million was a planning estimate, saying that madison had n -- mattis had not been briefed on the report. >> america is has a proud history over the years. we do our best work taking care of veterans when we do it in a bipartisan way. >> we asked the mayor's office and the administration if they could work something out would they consider doing a parade next year if the price goes way down. mr. trump meanwhile says he's going to go to

>> well, the american legion has long had a relationship with the president.100 years old and those 100 years we have had the opportunity to advise the president on several issues and the veterans across this nation feel that $12 million, $90 million, however many millions of dollars that money would be better spent taking care of our veterans and their families and our military personnel than to spend that money on a parade in washington, d.c. hopefully when the war is over and we have something really to celebrate, that might be the time to have a parade. but just not right now. >> i don't know if you've heard how secretary of defense mattis put it when he was -- he had heard some of these reports about estimates ballooning into the $92 million range. here was how he put it. >> whoever told you that is probably smoking something that's legal in my state but not in most states. i'm not diagnog nidignifying th with any replay. they probably said i need to stay anonymous. no kidding because you look like an idiot. >> so he's not mincing words, the secretary the

. >> any reaction to the american legion? n and the proclamation about john mccain. >> press, let's go. make your way out. >> thank you very much. >> let's go. >> nothing, cab tan plum. nothin -- captain plumb, what do you think john mccain would say about that. >> here's the irony of the whole thing. john mccain and donald trump are a lot alike. they are both outliers, both mavericks, they both buck the system. but they both love the country. i can guarantee that both of them love the country. the difference between jon john mccain and president trump is john was a humble man. they got into fights. but i so hoped for a long time that they could ever agree on their love for their country i'm convinced they both do. >> captain charlie column, thank you, sir, so much. >> thanks brooke. >> he may be gone but his legacy will live on forever. here is john mccain in his own words reflecting on how he hopes to be remembered. >> i hope those who mourn my passing and even those who don't will celebrate as i celebrate a happy life lived

i think the american legion spokesman was right, putting the resources and time into the matters thatroops. for the veterans it's medical and mental health care, but also for the folks inside the military, for the troops and their families, it's making sure they get education opportunities, there's predictable in their moving and housing schedule, all that kind of stuff matters and, of course making sure they have the tools to defend what they need. >> why doi think the president wants to do this so badly? >> well, i talked about this earlier, ana. i believe this is about his ego. i'm sorry to say that. i'm not happy to put it out there, but i believe it's more about him and grandadapt standing for him, making him look strong and powerful, and much, much less about honoring the troops. i can tell you, the men and women of the military don't need a parade. and they would to be contributing into that effort. they don't want to spend their time and effort marching down pennsylvania avenue. they would be rather in the field training and getting ready to conduct missions on behalf of the a

the spokesperson for the american legion actually said they heard from white house staffers, thanking them for putting out such a strongly worded statement on the issue. ultimately that pressure caused president trump to cave. listen to what he effectually said at an evangelical dipper at the white house. >> also our hearts and prayers are going to the family of senator john mccain. there will be a lot of activity over the next days and we appreciate everything senator mccain has done for our country. >> the question remains why. why did this have to happen? you are hearing from the president's allies and people close to the white house who call it an unforced error. it could be something simple following the basic protocols established by presidents before him, but this president chose not do that. many, many hours later with the president taking a sharp turn in the other direction from where he started. >> i wanted to read this op ed. mccain's passing is the sadder now. his dedication to america's global leadership and advocacy and steadfast opposition and willing to break with his

the two million people with the american legion i think had an impression on him. t we understand, everyone in the white house in terms of his senior staff, in terms of general mattis, in terms of even sarah huckabee sanders were basically telling him you need to do this. you need to do this. in the past john mccain has resisted that kind of advice. but even fox was praising john mccain. so the jig was up. >> everybody was praising john mccain. >> exactly, exactly. >> and a lot of people who -- i talked to a lot of people who would describe john mccain as their nemesis. he was the thorn in a side to a lot of people in his party, to the democratic party. is there a historical sort of precedent for the idea that the has or invents a nemesis and then there is just no ability to sort of get past partisan ship to honor that person. john mccain is one person that people on the left honor, people on the right honor. they respected the idea they would principal before most other things. >> yeah. you know, the person who presided the longest in that office where he was sitti

the american legion noticed and immediately called the white house. >> it is inappropriate that he cannot recognize this. >> reporter: later on, the president issued a statement that said, i respect senator john mccain and his service to his country and in his honor, i have signed a proclamation to fly the flag at half staff until the day of his internment. the president had earlier decided against releasing a statement calling mccain an >> it should have been automatic. >> reporter: the public -- are political analyst said there had long been a rift between the president and senator mccain. one thing we have learned from the president is that he is very thin-skinned. >> reporter: the president has criticized mccain in the past by losing by being captured during the vietnam war. >> that set off a tone between these two people that they never recovered from. >> reporter: two men representing two faces of the republican party. mccain not flinching as he rejected the resident's health corp. -- healthcare reform bill and his stance on russia. >> i have tried to serve our country honorably. i

nick: with the american legion strongly urging the commander-in-chief to honor this war hero and former prisoner of war, there was a presidential chat e of you is rd. we just got this statement from the president --ou "despit differences on policy and politics, i respect john mccain's service to our country and in his honor have signed a proclamation to the united states at half-staff until the day of his interment." it still doesn't call him a hero. tonight the stars and stripes were lowered again at the white house in that rare thing,mb presidential cwn. it symbolizes the broader debate as to who best embodies the values of modern america, donald trump or john mccain. nick bryant, bbc nws, washington. laura: earlier today rickav, who was john mccain's cpaign manager, read out a letter from the late senator with this message. >> do not despair of our present difficulties. we believe always in the promise and greatness of america, because nothing is inevitabl here. americans never quitsu, we never ender come we never hide from history. we make history. farewell, fellow americans. god bl

. >> this statement from the american legion, it says, "the american legion appreciates that our president wants to show in a dramatic fashion our nation's support for our troops. however, until such time as we can celebrate victory in the war on terrorism and bring our military home, we think the parade money would be better spent fully funding the te department of veterans affairs and giving our troops and their families the best care possible." seung, this is something that when the president first announced, the military was scratching their heads and saying let's fix the va first before we spend money on this. >> that's definitely part of it too. this is a president that's really taking so much pride in his support for the military. one of his biggest accomplishments is the increase for the pentagon. he was just up in new york earlier this week signing a defense authorization bill that allocates money for the pentagon. that's what he's focused on. i also want to put this in the context as well of his kind of track record on deficits. he didn't campaign on, you know -- he promised duri

of course the american legion, of course constituent. john mccain was in some ways a class of his own, you know. he was not your everyday senator that might squabble with the president. and the fact that the president was so terribly tone deaf on this. i mean, sometimes his instincts obviously are right on and appeal to voters in a really deep way, and sometimes they're off kilter. so yesterday was one of those and it is fascinating to see behind the scenes how many people had to appeal to him to say something kind about john mccain. >> right. well, look, this is just a self-imposed controversy, a self-imposed mistake once again born out of the president's insecurity, his self indulgence with regard to his temper and it shows you how he went out of his way to ignore his top aides, who said, you know, you can't do this. you have to do the right thing here because it's not about him. it's about the presidency. the office of the presidency requires, you're duty bound to honor a figure like john mccain whose service to the country, whose patr

but an interesting statement from the american legion and criticized the cost of the parade, it is good intentions, why can't he donate the money to causes that will help the military. so, yeah, an interesting back and forth there between him and d.c. mayor bowser on this. but it looks like the president will go to paris to watch the anniversary of world war i -- the victory in world war i. >> and jonathan, your reaction including the president saying he's going to paris on the veteran's day parade. >> i think that holding a -- a military parade right after the midterm election could be terribly poor optics for him if he ends up losing the house or a rebuke from the voters. now it looks like he'll be leaving the country and going to paris if that happens. so i'm not sure that there is a real win for him in this. the pentagon didn't want it to happen. the city of washington didn't want it to happen. and the mayor here is not going to lose a single vote for ripping the president publicly. >> and it did come with a huge price tag. stick around. we'll talk about the challenges pelosi faces

with the american legion strongly urging the commander—in—chief to honour this war hero and former prisoner just got this statement from the president: "despite our differences on policy and politics, i respect senatorjohn mccain's service to our country, and in his honour have signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the united states at half staff until the day of his internment." but it still doesn't call him a hero. so tonight, the stars & stripes was lowered again at the white house in that rare thing, a presidential climbdown. but the flag row has come to symbolise a broader debate as to who best embodies the values of modern america, donald trump orjohn mccain. nick bryant, bbc news, washington. state media in north korea have criticised the us for what they call extremely provocative and dangerous military moves in pacific waters. they also warned that the thaw in the relations with the us following the meeting between the two presidents injune could be in jeopardy. and there are indeed signs that relations are strained, president trump announced that his secretary of state, mike po

with the american legion strongly urging the commander—in—chief to honour this war hero and former prisoner. we've just got this statement from the president: "despite our differences on policy and politics, i respect senatorjohn mccain's service to our country, and in his honour have signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the united states at half staff until the day of his internment." but it still doesn't call him a hero. so tonight, the stars and stripes was lowered again at the white house in that rare thing — a presidential climbdown. but the flag row has come to symbolise a broader debate as to who best embodies the values of modern america — donald trump orjohn mccain. nick bryant, bbc news, washington. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: it's there in black and white. this panda has artistic talent, say its keepers in vienna zoo. he's the first african—american to win the presidential nomination of a major party, and he accepts exactly 45 years ago to the day that martin luther king declared "i have a dream." as darkness falls tonight, an unfamiliar light will appear in the

veterans groups like the american legion expressed disappointment. >> the man was a veteran, a war hero, a prisoner of war. then to dis him like they did. >> reporter: the president then ordered the flags to be flown at half-staff until the senator is buried. last night at a white house dinner for evangelical leaders, mr. trump made his first public statement on mccain. >> we very much appreciate everything that senator mccain has done for our country. >> reporter: on capitol hill, lawmakers offered fond remembrances of their colleague. >> i would say to the president or anybody in the world, it's time to pause and say this was a great man. he gave everything for us. we owe him nothing less than the respect that he earned. >> reporter: the formal memorials for senator mccain will begin tomorrow when his body lies in state at the arizona state capitol. president trump will not be at senator mccain's funeral. according to the "associated press," two white house officials said mccain's family had asked before the senator's death that the president not attend the service. the administration

. >> after a government estimate said it would be $92 million, the american legion called on the president to use the money to support veterans instead. the white house decided to call it off, for now. >> postponed for now. live at the white house, john, back to what you reported at the top. he is prepared to revoke more security clearances. the opposition for presidents from both parties is growing. 60 former cia officers now speaking out. >> these are 60 former officials who served throughout the cia under republican and democratic administrations and they are adding their voices to those condemning the president's move to strip the security clearance from john brennan. they write in their letter, former government officials have the right to express their unclassified views on what they see as critical national security issues without fear of being punished. david? >> to be continued on this front as well. thank you. now the developments late today in the paul manafort trial. jurors are deliberating manafort's fate. the note they gave the judge and what it indicated. they asked for that

the american legion called for the money to be spent on funding the v.a., instead of a parade.he president said he wanted a parade, but the price tag would be a deciding factor. >> we'll see if we can do it at a reasonable cost. and if we can't, we won't do it. >> oh, i think canceling the lirade is exactly the right exing to do. >> reporter: rhode island senator jack reed is a former army ranger. >> $90 million on a parade is an extravagance that the military can't afford. rd reporter: large-scale military parades are rare in the united states. the last one was 1991, following the gulf war. it cost an estimated $8 million, a figure that drew protests. mr. trump tweeted that he will attend an already-scheduled jolitary parade at nearby joint base andrews, and is planning to travel to paris in november for the world war i parade. the president did not rule out the possibility of a parade here e heashington next year. xtff. >> glor: kris van cleave, thanks very much. prosecutors in colorado are preparing to file formal charges against christopher watts tonight. he reportedly conf

he wants to top the bastille day parade, but the american legion says the money would be better spentegal in most states. initial reports are that it will cost $12 million. >>> former national security officials are coming to the defense of john brennan after president trump stripped his security clearance. the president is now connecting his decision to the russia investigation. and last night, 12 retired officials, including six former cia directors, say it was an attempt to stifle free speech. and william mccraven slammed trump in an op ed, saying he would consider it an honor if the president revoked his clearance. >>> jury deliberations resume in the trial of paul manafort. jurors had four questions for the judge, including one about what exactly is reasonable doubt? he defined the term, but on the other questions he told them to use their common sense. manafort is accused of hiding millions of dollars from the irs and lying to get loans. >>> the vatican says the church needs to learn, quote, hard lessons from its past. a pennsylvania grand jury report found widespread sex abuse

lowered and will be until mccain is buried here on sunday but that only came after criticism from the american legion. >> after repeatedly ignoring questions on john mccain and raising the white house flag with the nation still in mourning president trump last night making his first comments on mccain's service. >>. >> americans never quit. we never surrender. >> mccain's final thoughts on america's greatness and president trump without ever mentioning him by name. >> we weaken it when we hide behind walls rather than tear them down. >> the senate won't be the same without john mccain. >> farewell, senator, farewell, john. >> he was in the afraid to take on president he was unafraid to take on his own party. >> it begins friday. tracie potts, nbc news, washington. >> our coverage continues. senator opens up. >>> happening today in michigan thousands honoring aretha franklin. public viewings start today for the queen of soul. >> a line of fans waited all night to be among the first to pay the respects to the singer. anchts grew some find is turning into a homicide investigation for police. they say of

with the american legion strongly urging the commander—in—chief to honour this war hero and former prisonerdential change of view, if not heart. we just got this statement from the president, despite our differences on policy and politics, i respect senatorjohn mccain's servants it to our country and in his honour have signed a proclamation to flag the flag of the united states at half staff until the day of his internment. but it still doesn't call him a hero. so tonight the stars & stripes was lowered again at the white house in that rare thing, a presidential climbdown. but it symbolised a broader debate as to who best embodies the value of modern america, donald trump orjohn mccain. nick bryant, bbc news, washington. the united states and mexico have reached the outline of a new trade agreement after months of difficult negotiations. it would mark a success for donald trump's attempts to renegotiate us trade deals, including the north american free trade agreement, nafta. but a final deal would need a sign—off from canada, the third country in the nafta treaty. in new york, markets ende

>> reporter: and then the american legion called on the president to lower the white house flag againout that still no answer. why won't you say anything about john mccain? and a reversal from the president ordering the flag to be lowered once more to say, quote, despite our difference on policy and politics, i respect senator john mccain's service to our country. president trump will not attend the memorial services for john mccain, even before he died, his family made it clear the president was not invited to his memorial. instead, vice president pence will be speaking at a service in the capitol on friday. >>> canada's foreign minister is flying to washington for talks today after the president reached a deal with mexico that could replace nafta the president is calling at this time united states-mexico trade agreement but says he will give them a chance to join if they negotiate fairly. it outlines new rules for auto makers and the parts they use the deal still needs congressal approval. wall street is encouraged the dow rows 68 points and the nasdaq topped 8,000 for the first tim

i have never seen in all my years in washington this kind of thing where the american legion has to write the president and demand they lower the flag to half-staff. i think john mccain is going to be remembered as a great man, he certainly was in my estimation. and frankly i don't say this very often, it was an honor for me to get to know him and to watch him and to report on what he was doing. >> o'donnell: i would say the same. thank you, bob. >> thank you. >> o'donnell: president trump and mexico's president today announced a preliminary deal to replace the north american free trade agreement, which mr. trump has called a disaster for icerican workers. in the.s. and hier saliespr canada is not included and won't be according to mr. trump unless it makes new concessions. today we learned the young man who opened fire at a video game tournament in florida had a history of mental illness. y vid katz killed two other players and himself and wounded ten others. manual bojorquez reports. >> reporter: the live stream of sunday's event shows what appears to be a red laser aimed at 22 year old