Donald Trump‘s campaign continues with more controversial remarks. He spoke on Saturday at the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa. Trump used the opportunity to launch an attack on John McCain, who Trump sees as an unworthy war hero. Trump — vowing that he can do better — also believes McCain hasn’t done enough for the vets.
Trump says McCain only rose to war hero status because he was captured and held prisoner in North Vietnam. McCain, who was tortured and held in appalling conditions, spent two of his five-and-a-half imprisoned years in solitary confinement. Trump still sees McCain as a failure:
“He’s not a war hero,” said Trump. “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”
The remarks, which came after days of back-and-forth between McCain and Trump, were met with scattered boos.
At a press availability following his remarks, Trump denied saying that McCain isn’t a war hero and said, “If somebody’s a prisoner, I consider them a war hero.”
He also continued his attacks on the Arizona senator, saying, “I think John McCain’s done very little for the veterans. I’m very disappointed in John McCain.”
Trump’s fellow Presidential candidates rallied around McCain after Trump’s remarks. Speaking at a campaign event in Sioux City, Iowa, Wisconson Governor Scott Walker described McCain as “an American hero.” Walker added of Trump, “I unequivocally denounce him.” Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who spoke at the Family Leadership Summit, disagreed with Trump on Twitter:
America’s POWs deserve much better than to have their service questioned by the offensive rantings of Donald Trump
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 18, 2015
Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer chimed in as well:
.@SenJohnMcCain is an American hero because he served his country and sacrificed more than most can imagine. Period.
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) July 18, 2015
MORE – on @SenJohnMcCain There is no place in our party or our country for comments that disparage those who have served honorably,
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) July 18, 2015
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal and former Texas governor Rick Perry spoke up:
After Donald Trump spends six years in a POW camp, he can weigh in on John McCain's service
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) July 18, 2015
.@SenJohnMcCain is an American hero & all POW's deserve our nation's highest debt of gratitude. @realDonaldTrump's comments are disgraceful.
— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry) July 18, 2015
As a fellow veteran I respect @SenJohnMcCain because he volunteered to serve his country. I cannot say the same about Mr. @realDonaldTrump.
— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry) July 18, 2015
Trump isn’t listening, and he didn’t hear the scattered “boos” during his speech. In fact, he tweeted about the standing ovation he received:
Just left Family Leadership Summit in Iowa, got a standing ovation from many wonderful people. I will be back soon.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2015
Then Trump “clarified” his McCain remarks. He vowed to “make things right” for our veterans. Trump also used his Twitter soapbox to bring up his immigration stance in the same discussion:
In addition to doing a lousy job in taking care of our Vets, John McCain let us down by losing to Barack Obama in his run for President!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2015
The Veterans of our country have been treated like third class citizens for many years…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2015
….John McCain has failed miserably to fix the situation and to make it possible for Veterans to successfully manage their lives.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2015
All he does is go on television is talk, talk, talk, but incapable of doing anything.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2015
I will make this right for our great Vets!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2015
It's a national embarrassment that an illegal immigrant can walk across the border and receive free health care and one of our Veterans…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2015
….that has served our country is put on a waiting list and gets no care.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2015
I have a proven track record supporting our Veterans. Veterans deserve universal access to care. VA scandal proves politicians are inept.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2015
Why would anybody listen to @MittRomney? He lost an election that should have easily been won against Obama. By the way,so did John McCain!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2015
(via Politico)