Nicolle Wallace: Fox News’s McCain coverage must have made Trump ‘mad, mad, mad’

MSNBC host and former presidential campaign adviser to Sen. John McCain +Nicolle Wallace said Fox News’s blanket coverage of the Arizona Republican’s death over the weekend must have driven President Trump “mad, mad, mad.”

The commentary comes as the White House on Monday returned its flags to half-staff following considerable criticism of Trump’s response to the death of the Vietnam war prisoner and 2008 GOP presidential nominee, with the president issuing a new statement expressing “respect” for McCain’s service to the nation.

{mosads}“I did watch some Fox News on Saturday night, and even his favorite network Fox News celebrated American hero John McCain,” noted Wallace on “Deadline: White House.”

“That must have driven him mad, mad, mad.”  

Fox News broke into regularly scheduled programming with live coverage of the news of McCain’s passing on Saturday night shortly after 8 p.m., going through midnight to reflect on his life and legacy. Trump has tweeted on multiple occasions about the network, lauding its programs and individual segments.

McCain, 81, who died from brain cancer on Saturday, will join only 30 other people in 166 years to lie in state at the Capitol.

The New York Times reported in May that McCain asked that President Trump not attend any services, instead requesting Vice President Pence go in his place.

Pence is set to attend McCain’s funeral, as are former Presidents Obama and George W. Bush.

Other top officials will represent the administration at McCain’s funeral on Sunday at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., including White House chief of staff John Kelly, national security adviser John Bolton and Defense Secretary James Mattis. 

“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,” Trump said in a statement released by the White House Monday afternoon. 

Wallace, a staunch critic of the president, served as White House communications director under George W. Bush in 2005-2006 and clashed with McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin, while serving as the former Alaska governor’s campaign adviser.