President Donald Trump denied knowing of a White House effort to keep the USS John McCain out of sight during his visit to Japan and a trip to visit Armed Forces in the Pacific.
“I was not informed about anything having to do with the Navy Ship USS John S. McCain during my recent visit to Japan,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Nevertheless, the first lady and I loved being with our great Military Men and Women – what a spectacular job they do!” he wrote.
Leaked emails between the White House Military Office and the Navy Seventh Fleet showed the White House working to make sure that the ship did not interfere with the president’s visit, according to the Wall Street Journal. A source identified as a “U.S. official” claimed that Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan knew about the effort to hide the ship, but the Pentagon denied the story in a statement.
“Secretary Shanahan was not aware of the directive to move the USS John S McCain nor was he aware of the concern precipitating the directive,” a spokesman told reporters.
Sailors aboard the ship reportedly received the day off while sailors on some of the other ships attended Trump’s speech aboard the USS Wasp.
Global News 
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