McCain wins the final round of his rivalry with Trump in his farewell to the American people

• Senator John McCain's office issued his farewell statement to the American people after his death on Saturday.
• The statement slammed President Donald Trump's policies without mentioning his name.
• Meanwhile, Trump led a confused White House response to a self-inflicted controversy caused by the White House not keeping flags at half mast for the customary period of time.
• Trump eventually re-lowered flags and made a statement saying he respected McCain.
• McCain let his final feelings towards Trump be known by not inviting him to his funeral.

Sen. John McCain's office issued his farewell statement to the American people after his death on Saturday. In it he slammed President Donald Trump's policies as the president became mired in controversy over his apparent disrespect for the former Arizona senator.

McCain, the GOP's 2008 presidential candidate and longtime party leadership figure, and Trump - a political neophyte whose now wide grip on the party dates back less than two years- had long been rivals.

McCain, who survived North Vietnamese forces shooting down his plane, a failed ejection that shattered three of his limbs, a savage beating by the waiting enemy, and a stint as a prisoner of war wherein he refused early release to favor other US captives, has repeatedly had his status as a war hero questioned by Trump.

The two frequently sparred on issues of decorum. McCain also dealt a death blow to Trump's American Health Care Act, severely setting back the president's legislative agenda.

But in dying, McCain made clear his true feelings for Trump by asking him not to attend his funeral and rebuking him in his final words to the country.

From McCain's farewell:

Trump's controversial response to McCain's death

Since McCain's death, Trump has come under fire for a confused and possibly disrespectful response to the passing of an American who served his country for sixty years.

Initially, Trump made no statement on McCain himself, only wishing his family well in wake of his death. Later, Trump's White House bucked the long-established trend of flying flags at half mast from the time of a Senator's death to his burial.

The White House and Pentagon, buildings under control of the executive branch, raised their flags shortly after McCain's death, while Congress continued to keep theirs low.

"I doubt you could find a comparable situation where the president doesn't order the flag flown at half-mast until the funeral," said John Lawrence, history professor at the University of California's Washington Center to Reuters.

"The disparity between the Congress and White House policy is obviously noticeable and somewhat shocking."

On Monday, the flags returned to half staff along with a statement from Trump that struck a more conciliatory note after hours of pressure from veteran's groups.

"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 interment," the statement said.

In his death, McCain left a hole in Congress and the fabric of American public life, as well as a vision of how the country can recover from political divisiveness.

From McCain:

Read McCain's full farewell below:

NOW WATCH: A North Korean defector's harrowing story of escape