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| John McCain: Trump's 'offensive' comment merits apology to military families | John McCain: Trump's 'offensive' comment merits apology to military families |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Donald Trump has said his comment that John McCain is “not a war hero” was in fact misconstrued amid praise for “people that weren’t captured” and broader criticisms of the “terrible” senator. | Donald Trump has said his comment that John McCain is “not a war hero” was in fact misconstrued amid praise for “people that weren’t captured” and broader criticisms of the “terrible” senator. |
| Related: Donald Trump is under fire from all sides - and that's what gives him power | J Arthur Bloom | |
| “We talk about John McCain and I think it’s great, and he is a very brave man and all of that,” Trump told NBC’s Today show on Monday. “But we don’t talk about the people that weren’t captured, and that’s what I was trying to refer to, and I think I did.” | “We talk about John McCain and I think it’s great, and he is a very brave man and all of that,” Trump told NBC’s Today show on Monday. “But we don’t talk about the people that weren’t captured, and that’s what I was trying to refer to, and I think I did.” |
| Trump backtracked controversial remarks made on Saturday about McCain’s more than five years as a prisoner during the Vietnam war. “He’s not a war hero,” Trump said at the time. “He’s a war hero because he was captured? I like people who weren’t captured.” | Trump backtracked controversial remarks made on Saturday about McCain’s more than five years as a prisoner during the Vietnam war. “He’s not a war hero,” Trump said at the time. “He’s a war hero because he was captured? I like people who weren’t captured.” |
| Calling into the morning show, Trump said that the comment was misrepresented by the media, which should have “let it run just another three seconds”. | Calling into the morning show, Trump said that the comment was misrepresented by the media, which should have “let it run just another three seconds”. |
| “I said very clearly he is a war hero,” Trump said. “I have absolutely no problem with that.” | “I said very clearly he is a war hero,” Trump said. “I have absolutely no problem with that.” |
| “What I do have problems with is that he called 15,000 people that showed up for me to speak in Phoenix, he called them crazies,” Trump continued, speaking of a campaign event in Arizona and McCain’s criticism that Trump for inflaming anti-immigrant sentiment among extreme factions of the party. | “What I do have problems with is that he called 15,000 people that showed up for me to speak in Phoenix, he called them crazies,” Trump continued, speaking of a campaign event in Arizona and McCain’s criticism that Trump for inflaming anti-immigrant sentiment among extreme factions of the party. |
| “They were great Americans, and he has not taken care of the vets,” Trump said. | “They were great Americans, and he has not taken care of the vets,” Trump said. |
| Also on Monday John McCain called on Donald Trump to apologize to military families. He said Trump did not, however, need to apologize to him. | Also on Monday John McCain called on Donald Trump to apologize to military families. He said Trump did not, however, need to apologize to him. |
| Related: Is this guy serious? Could Republican frontrunner Donald Trump actually win? | Related: Is this guy serious? Could Republican frontrunner Donald Trump actually win? |
| “There’s so many men and some women who served and sacrificed and happened to be held prisoner,” McCain said on MSNBC. “And somehow to denigrate that in any way, their service, I think is offensive to most of our veterans.” | “There’s so many men and some women who served and sacrificed and happened to be held prisoner,” McCain said on MSNBC. “And somehow to denigrate that in any way, their service, I think is offensive to most of our veterans.” |
| “I’m not a hero,” McCain said, before listing veterans who served with distinction but were captured in Vietnam or the second world war. | “I’m not a hero,” McCain said, before listing veterans who served with distinction but were captured in Vietnam or the second world war. |
| “Those are the people that frankly I find it just totally inappropriate for Mr Trump to say he doesn’t like to be with people who were captured,” McCain said. | “Those are the people that frankly I find it just totally inappropriate for Mr Trump to say he doesn’t like to be with people who were captured,” McCain said. |
| Trump in turn accused McCain of failing veterans and associated him with the beleaguered Department of Veterans Affairs, which McCain is not in charge of and has emphatically pushed for reform within. | Trump in turn accused McCain of failing veterans and associated him with the beleaguered Department of Veterans Affairs, which McCain is not in charge of and has emphatically pushed for reform within. |
| “I’m not a fan of John McCain, he’s done a terrible job for the vets,” Trump said. | “I’m not a fan of John McCain, he’s done a terrible job for the vets,” Trump said. |
| “I see the vets, they come to me. These are powerful, wonderful people and they’re crying, they don’t know what to do, they’re lost because of what we’re doing. | “I see the vets, they come to me. These are powerful, wonderful people and they’re crying, they don’t know what to do, they’re lost because of what we’re doing. |
| “Frankly illegal immigrants get treated better than many of our vets. It’s a disgrace what’s happening in our country.” | “Frankly illegal immigrants get treated better than many of our vets. It’s a disgrace what’s happening in our country.” |
| But Trump defended his comments about McCain on Sunday, saying he would not apologize. | But Trump defended his comments about McCain on Sunday, saying he would not apologize. |
| “When I left the room it was a total standing ovation, it was wonderful to see, nobody was insulted,” Trump said. “I will say what I want to say.” | “When I left the room it was a total standing ovation, it was wonderful to see, nobody was insulted,” Trump said. “I will say what I want to say.” |
| Related: 'I'm, like, a really smart person': Donald Trump exults in outsider status | |
| McCain, in contrast, softened his claim that Trump had riled up “the crazies” at a campaign event in Phoenix. | McCain, in contrast, softened his claim that Trump had riled up “the crazies” at a campaign event in Phoenix. |
| “I have hundreds of town hall meetings all over Arizona,” McCain said, “and I’m called crazy by the people that come there. I thought it’s a term of endearment.” | “I have hundreds of town hall meetings all over Arizona,” McCain said, “and I’m called crazy by the people that come there. I thought it’s a term of endearment.” |
| But the senator and 2008 Republican nominee dodged questions about the discrepancy between his own service – during which he was tortured by the North Vietnamese and refused release until other captives were freed – and Trump’s lack thereof. | But the senator and 2008 Republican nominee dodged questions about the discrepancy between his own service – during which he was tortured by the North Vietnamese and refused release until other captives were freed – and Trump’s lack thereof. |
| Trump was not drafted, having been granted several student deferments and then a medical deferment, which he said on Saturday was for “a bone spur” in his foot. | Trump was not drafted, having been granted several student deferments and then a medical deferment, which he said on Saturday was for “a bone spur” in his foot. |
| “For me to look back in anger on anyone is nonproductive,” McCain said when asked how he felt personally about Trump. | “For me to look back in anger on anyone is nonproductive,” McCain said when asked how he felt personally about Trump. |
| Referring to the Vietnam war memorial in Washington, he said: “Who are the real heroes? They’re the 55,000 names engraved down on the wall.” | Referring to the Vietnam war memorial in Washington, he said: “Who are the real heroes? They’re the 55,000 names engraved down on the wall.” |
| McCain also refrained from calling for Trump to bow out of the primary race, as some candidates have done, saying: “I think that’s a decision he would have to make.” | McCain also refrained from calling for Trump to bow out of the primary race, as some candidates have done, saying: “I think that’s a decision he would have to make.” |
| Trump’s remarks drew sharp criticism from others in the party, including other candidates for president. McCain’s long-time friend and Senate colleague Lindsey Graham wrote: “If there was ever any doubt that Donald Trump should not be our commander in chief, this stupid statement should end all doubt.” | Trump’s remarks drew sharp criticism from others in the party, including other candidates for president. McCain’s long-time friend and Senate colleague Lindsey Graham wrote: “If there was ever any doubt that Donald Trump should not be our commander in chief, this stupid statement should end all doubt.” |
| Riding anti-immigrant rhetoric about “rapists” and “tremendous infectious disease” from Mexico, Trump has risen to the top of the Republican primary polls. His numbers tumble, however, in other polls, and Hispanic voters overwhelming rejected him in a Univision poll last week. | Riding anti-immigrant rhetoric about “rapists” and “tremendous infectious disease” from Mexico, Trump has risen to the top of the Republican primary polls. His numbers tumble, however, in other polls, and Hispanic voters overwhelming rejected him in a Univision poll last week. |
| On Monday Trump persisted, without naming a specific poll: “You know who I’m leading most? The Hispanics, I’m leading by a tremendous margin the Hispanics.” | On Monday Trump persisted, without naming a specific poll: “You know who I’m leading most? The Hispanics, I’m leading by a tremendous margin the Hispanics.” |
| Related: Donald Trump stands by incendiary attack on John McCain | Related: Donald Trump stands by incendiary attack on John McCain |
| Analysts suggest Trump’s brash appeals to a far-right faction will have short-lived returns. Many Republicans, including rivals Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, have distanced themselves from the real estate mogul. | Analysts suggest Trump’s brash appeals to a far-right faction will have short-lived returns. Many Republicans, including rivals Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, have distanced themselves from the real estate mogul. |
| On Monday morning, appearing on CNN, Trump Organization vice-president Michael Cohen suggested that “the only guy that’s smart about this is Ted Cruz”, speaking of the senator and presidential candidate who has not criticized Trump. “He wants to stay out.” | On Monday morning, appearing on CNN, Trump Organization vice-president Michael Cohen suggested that “the only guy that’s smart about this is Ted Cruz”, speaking of the senator and presidential candidate who has not criticized Trump. “He wants to stay out.” |
| “Donald Trump is a force in and of himself. Donald Trump is not somebody who’s going to kowtow to anyone,” Cohen said. “All Donald Trump wants to do is make this country great again.” | “Donald Trump is a force in and of himself. Donald Trump is not somebody who’s going to kowtow to anyone,” Cohen said. “All Donald Trump wants to do is make this country great again.” |
| McCain merely said he would be curious to see the next round of polls after Trump’s weekend remarks. | McCain merely said he would be curious to see the next round of polls after Trump’s weekend remarks. |
| “I’ve had a flood of call from our veterans,” he said, “and they are not happy.” | “I’ve had a flood of call from our veterans,” he said, “and they are not happy.” |
| Trump was unperturbed: “everything was perfect. I never even thought this would be an issue.” | Trump was unperturbed: “everything was perfect. I never even thought this would be an issue.” |