So Donald Trump might’ve finally kicked his party’s hornets nest a bit too hard Saturday by claiming that Sen. John McCain was unworthy as a war hero because he had been captured by the enemy. Trump, seen above with his gang at Universal Studios, didn’t have much nice to say about the senator from Arizona. Here’s a refresher on what was said in case you missed it:
“He’s not a war hero,” said Trump. “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”
That’s not a child saying that about an action figure his parents bought him, that’s a candidate for President of the United States. Trump attempted to claim he didn’t say that McCain wasn’t a war hero and added that he’s ONLY a war hero because he was captured, but it didn’t calm the waters any. Many of his opponents and other folks took the chance to lash out, but Trump, on the other hand, went to ABC on Sunday morning and used his moment to double (or triple down depending on how you look at it) on his comments:
The full Trump interview on ABC this morning is a must watch: http://t.co/q2HMrif2cV
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) July 19, 2015
Throughout this chat, ABC’s Martha Raddatz attempted to provide Trump with context to challenge his assertions on John McCain, but was greeted with questions about why her and others in the media don’t defend his hair against people making jokes, what his comments really reflected on, and claiming that he’s not going to stop the attacks his campaign has been known for to this point:
Asked if he would continue his pattern of “name-calling, using terms like ‘dummy,’ ‘loser,’ ‘total losers’ on Twitter and elsewhere” when he’s “criticized or attacked” if he was elected president, Trump told Raddatz he only gives it back to people who attack him.
“When people attack me, I let them have it back,” he said. “People are constantly attacking my hair. I don’t see you coming to my defense.”
Meanwhile, Trump took to Twitter to add some more fuel to his McCain fire, saying the Arizona senator has moving lips when it comes to veterans and not much more.
John McCain called thousands of people "crazies" when they came to seek help on illegal immigration last week in Phoenix. He owes apology!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2015
The Veterans Administration is in shambles and our veterans are suffering greatly. John McCain has done nothing to help them but talk.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2015
More people have took to social media to attack back at Trump and show their support for John McCain.
Enough with the slanderous attacks. @SenJohnMcCain and all our veterans – particularly POWs have earned our respect and admiration.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) July 18, 2015
Just told a crowd in Sioux City: @SenJohnMcCain is an American hero
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) July 18, 2015
.@SenJohnMcCain is an American hero, period.
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) July 18, 2015
If there was ever any doubt that @realDonaldTrump should not be our commander in chief, this stupid statement should end all doubt.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 18, 2015
Others took the chance to drop a few jokes about Trump on social media:
https://twitter.com/aaronpaul_8/status/622604810039132160
https://twitter.com/RexHuppke/status/622585733425950720
Publicly calling CAPT (ret) John McCain, USN, a "dummy" when you're a draft-dodger reveals who Donald Trump really is. Not pretty.
— John Schindler (@20committee) July 16, 2015
Then we have that one voice that’s out there in the night, speaking a hard truth about something we don’t want to believe. It’s going to be a long time before this guy drops out of the race.
I don't get this conceit that Donald Trump, who constantly says inane nonsense, is definitely finished due to this latest inane nonsense.
— Conor Friedersdorf (@conor64) July 19, 2015
(Via ABC News)