Donald Trump has insisted he didn't know anything about a decision to hide the name of a US warship during his visit to Japan.
It comes after reports that the White House wanted the USS John McCain 'out of sight' during President Trump's recent visit to Japan.
The Wall Street Journal reported that US military officials worked to ensure the US president wouldn't see the ship.
NEW: The White House wanted the USS John McCain “out of sight” for Trump’s visit to Japan. A tarp was hung over the ship’s name ahead of the trip, and sailors—who wear caps bearing the ship’s name—were given the day off for Trump’s visit. w/@gluboldhttps://t.co/6ugPceCOre pic.twitter.com/KuIoWJK5Kt
— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) May 29, 2019
It was originally named after two US Navy admirals - John S McCain Sr and Jr, the grandfather and father of the late US senator John McCain.
It was rededicated last year to add the Arizona senator as a namesake.
Senator McCain, who died in August of last year, was an often vocal opponent of the current US president - and Trump has continued to publicly McCain in the months since the Arizona politician's death.
Talking to reporters earlier today, Trump once again hit out at the late senator - but insisted he had nothing to do with 'hiding' the vessel in Japan.
He said: "I don't know what happened. I wasn't involved. I would not have done that."
He added that he "was not a big fan of John McCain in any way, shape or form" - citing actions such as the Republican senator's decisive vote in 2017 that sunk Trump's healthcare plan, and his backing of military action in the Middle East.
Trump added: "I wasn't a fan - but I would never do a thing like that. Now, somebody did it because they thought I didn't like him.
"They were well meaning, I will say. I didn't know anything about - I would never have done that."
He had earlier tweeted that he was not informed about anything involving the ship:
