Trump Signs Act Named After John McCain Without Mentioning McCain Once
President Donald Trump couldn’t manage to say a single nice thing about Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at an event on Monday where he signed a defense bill named for the former prisoner of war.
Trump went to Fort Drum in New York to sign the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act but did not mention the senator at all in his speech. The president has frequently insulted McCain, a Vietnam veteran and prisoner of war, even as the senator battles an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The president did, however, boast about creating a new military branch, the Space Force.
“It is not enough to merely have an American presence in space,” Trump told troops at Fort Drum. “We must have American dominance in space.”
"It is not enough to merely have an American presence in space. We must have American dominance in space," Pres. Trump brings up Space Force to troops at Fort Drum, New York. https://t.co/qKWR9Gpv7C pic.twitter.com/YG4SBBHsam
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 13, 2018
McCain became one of Trump’s favorite targets on the presidential campaign trail in 2015 when Trump told supporters he “liked people who weren’t captured.” Trump continually attacked McCain’s status as a war hero, despite having dodged the Vietnam draft multiple times himself for “bone spurs.”
Trump has been critical of McCain since long before the beginning of his political career, it turns out. A newly unearthed interview of Trump from a “60 Minutes” segment with Dan Rather in 1999 showed Trump making almost the exact same remarks about McCain’s war record.
“He was captured,” Trump said in the 1999 interview. “Does being captured make you a hero? I don’t know. I’m not sure.”
Trump criticized McCain again for voting against a Republican push to repeal the Affordable Care Act last year.
The president’s rhetoric about McCain also seemed to influence his staff. Former White House aide Kelly Sadler made an insulting crack about McCain at a private meeting in May, telling other staffers that McCain’s opposition to Trump’s nomination of Gina Haspel for CIA director didn’t matter because the senator was “dying anyway.”
Sadler left the White House a month later.
Related Coverage
White House Aide Kelly Sadler Out After Mocking 'Dying' John McCain
Meghan McCain Takes A Swipe At White House After Aide Mocks Her Father's Cancer
When Republicans Abandoned John McCain, They Sent A Chilling Message To The Rest Of Us
Donald Trump Insults John McCain's Military Career In Newly Unearthed Video From 1999
Also on HuffPost
Melania and I send our thoughts and prayers to Senator McCain, Cindy, and their entire family. pic.twitter.com/SO4XYgnyug
— President Trump (@POTUS) July 20, 2017
John McCain is an American hero & one of the bravest fighters I've ever known. Cancer doesn't know what it's up against. Give it hell, John.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 20, 2017
John and I have been friends for 40 years. He's gotten through so much difficulty with so much grace. He is strong - and he will beat this.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 20, 2017
John McCain is as tough as they come. Thinking of John, Cindy, their wonderful children, & their whole family tonight.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 20, 2017
.@SenJohnMcCain is a hero to our Conference and a hero to our country. pic.twitter.com/Ld2lQH1mMn
— Leader McConnell (@SenateMajLdr) July 20, 2017
.@SenJohnMcCain has always been a warrior. It's who he is. All of us, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans, are behind him. pic.twitter.com/B6iDpPultM
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) July 20, 2017
.@SenJohnMcCain is a hero, a patriot and a fighter. I am privileged to call him a friend. Paul & I pray for his recovery and his family.
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) July 20, 2017
As he’s shown his entire life, don’t bet against John McCain. Best wishes to him for a swift recovery.
— Bill Clinton (@billclinton) July 20, 2017
Following is a statement by @GeorgeHWBush on @SenJohnMcCain. pic.twitter.com/x8kIStWz7p
— Jim McGrath (@jgm41) July 20, 2017
Hang in there @SenJohnMcCain. You're tough! You can beat this. Fight, fight, fight! I am proud to call you my friend.
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) July 20, 2017
To say @SenJohnMcCain is a fighter is an understatement. Time and time again, he has shown all of us how to be courageous under fire.
— Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (@SenatorHeitkamp) July 20, 2017
Counting on the legendary John McCain strength to give cancer its toughest fight ever. Rooting for you, dear friend.
— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) July 20, 2017
Hey John! We can't wait to welcome you to the club. You got this! ❤️@SenJohnMcCain #cancersurvivors
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) July 20, 2017
I love @SenJohnMcCain. Unbeatable, unbreakable. He's Teddy Roosevelt's "man in the arena" even when we're on opposite sides. God bless. pic.twitter.com/0sBY4QynWp
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) July 20, 2017
Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.