South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE (D) slammed a reported Trump administration request for military officials to hide the USS John S. McCain during the president’s visit to Japan. 

Buttigieg, who served in the Navy, said Thursday that the military isn’t a “prop” to be “toyed with for the benefit of a fragile president’s ego.”

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that White House officials requested the ship — which was originally named after McCain’s grandfather and father, with the senator joining the namesakes in 2018 — be “out of sight” during President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE’s Memorial Day visit.

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Trump told reporters on Thursday that he didn’t know about the decision, but said that whoever made the order was “well meaning” given his past feuds with the late GOP Sen. John McCainJohn Sidney McCainThe Hill’s Campaign Report: Bad polling data is piling up for Trump Cindy McCain ‘disappointed’ McGrath used image of John McCain in ad attacking McConnell Report that Bush won’t support Trump reelection ‘completely made up,’ spokesman says MORE. Trump has continued to attack McCain nearly a year after the senator’s death and said Thursday that he “was not a big fan of John McCain in any way, shape or form.”

The Washington Post and New York Times both confirmed the Wall Street Journal’s report, which said that military officials approved measures so the ship would be hidden during Trump’s state visit.

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Buttigieg has in the past come to McCain’s defense after a Trump attack, pointing to accusations that Trump faked a bone spurs diagnoses to avoid serving in the Vietnam War.

“When a president (who faked a disability in order to avoid serving) attacks a departed war hero, it’s for attention,” Buttigieg tweeted in March. “We should honor the late Senator McCain, and also follow his example by focusing not on the behavior of the president but on the future of our country.”