A former Homeland Security official who notably wrote an “anonymous” op-ed against Donald Trump’s first term has explained why he decided to quit after the president’s response to the death of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2018.
Miles Taylor — in a “CNN NewsNight” segment on Trump’s gleeful reaction to the death of ex-FBI Director Robert Mueller — responded to GOP consultant Brad Todd’s attempt to defend the president, who used Charlie Kirk’s memorial service to declare that he hates his foes and doesn’t “want the best for them.”
Taylor called Trump’s comments on Mueller’s death “so unsurprising” before looking back on the White House’s brief tribute to McCain when it raised the U.S. flag less than two days after the U.S. senator’s death following his battle with brain cancer.
The administration faced backlash from veterans groups at the time before Trump begrudgingly ordered the flag to be lowered to half-staff again.
“I don’t care if you agreed with John McCain or disagreed. It didn’t matter. Like Bob Mueller, he served this country in uniform,” said Taylor of McCain and Mueller, both decorated military veterans with long histories of public service.
