Former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin told Britain television viewers this morning that not being invited to Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) funeral was a “gut punch.”
Palin, who was McCain’s running mate for his 2008 presidential campaign, told “Good Morning Britain” she was “kind of surprised to be publicly disinvited” from the August 2018 funeral.
Palin, who is also a former Republican governor of Alaska, said in addition to her, there were “good people in our campaign back in 2008 who were very, very loyal to Sen. McCain” who were not invited, saying McCain’s family “didn’t have to embarrass me and embarrass others.”
She did, however, come to the late senator’s defense, advising critics, including Donald Trump, to “chill out” and move on.
“I do believe, though, that once a person is resting in peace, as is the dearly departed Senator McCain is, I think people can kinda chill on the criticism of the man,” said Palin. “You know, zip it and move on. I don’t like to hear all the absolutely abhorrent negative comments that continue to go on and on and on about the man and his life. Stop and move on.”
Palin’s remarks come weeks after Trump spent multiple days berating the late senator, calling him “horrible” and bemoaning the lack of a “thank you” for giving McCain’s family “the kind of funeral he wanted.”
The Washington National Cathedral, where the funeral was held, put out a statement denying it required Trump’s approval for the event.
{READ: Trump Complains He Didn’t Get Thank You For McCain Funeral}
“All funerals and memorial services at the Cathedral are organized by the family of the deceased; only a state funeral for a former president involves consultation with government officials,” a cathedral spokesperson told The Hill in March.
McCain, who ultimately lost to Barack Obama in 2008, had said he regretted choosing Palin as his running mate over then-Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.).
Trump, who continues to berate the late Arizona senator 7 months after his death, was also on the list of those excluded from the funeral.
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