(Whether they honor the service of McCain and Powell despite their political disagreements remains an open question.)
But for the bulk of Republicans, they stay silent because, well, they're scared of getting on the wrong side of Trump -- and what that might mean for their political careers.The practical effect of the avoidance of calling out Trump is that views like the ones he has put forward on McCain and Powell over the last week are seen as acceptable to the broad swath of Republican voters.Which is a remarkable thing given that, for decades, the Republican Party has positioned itself as ardently pro-military and attacked Democrats when even a whiff of criticism about those who served emerges.
This is the Trump Republican Party circa 2021.