Donald Trump under fire for praising Kanye West yet staying quiet about Senator John McCain's cancer news
Donald Trump has come under fire for praising rapper Kanye West and his reality TV star wife Kim Kardashian West, while ignoring Senator John McCain who has stopped treatment for brain cancer.
Speaking at a rally in Ohio on Friday, the President included West and his wife for praise, yet did not send any message to his political rival, whose family had announced earlier the same day that he would no longer be continuing treatment for an aggressive brain tumour.
During the rally, Mr Trump said: “Now we’re doing great and Kanye West liked me. And that really lifted my (numbers). Kanye West has some real power!
Referring to Kardashian West’s work earning the freedom of drug dealer Alice Marie Johnson in June, he added: “And he’s got a good wife too in Kim, I’ll tell ya. She really is. She did a great thing, a great thing. That was through Kim Kardashian, I think it was terrific.”
But there was no praise for the President’s political rival, who Mr Trump once claimed was not a war hero because he was captured and tortured in Vietnam.
In July 2015, the then-presidential hopeful said: “I like people who weren’t captured.”
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Mr Trump’s omission on Friday provoked a backlash on Twitter, with some finding it unbelievable that he would not acknowledge the news from Senator McCain’s family, despite the pair’s historic rivalry.
Others pointed out that the President had sent warm wishes to North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, yet couldn’t mention a fellow countryman, despite their differences.
When is @POTUS gonna acknowledge John McCain in these dear times? He never said one word!! SMDH
— Alicia Michele (@AliciaMichele88) August 25, 2018
This man is the stupidest, most repulsive, most cold-hearted reptile in our beleaguered world. Shame! https://t.co/M353UTMYM9
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) August 25, 2018
Trump sent his warmest regards and respect to Kim Jong Un but he still has no word for John McCain.
— Allen Marshall (@AllenCMarshall) August 25, 2018
The latest controversy to surround Mr Trump comes after a difficult week for the President, in which two former members of his inner circle were found or pleaded guilty to crime.
The warmth shown from Mr Trump to Kanye West, 41, is reciprocated by the rapper, who has been a vocal supporter of Mr Trump, often being pictured wearing a cap bearing the president’s slogan of “make America great again”.
In April, he said the “mob can’t make me not love him”, adding: “We are both dragon energy. He is my brother.”
