President Trump paid a strange tribute to John McCain this week, when he called him a “crusty voice in the Senate.” The 80-year-old, six-term Arizona senator, now undergoing treatment for brain cancer, has definitely not held back when criticizing the president’s positions, actions or general affect. Here are some of the highlights of the often contentious John McCain Trump dynamic.
After Trump criticized London Mayor Sadiq Khan following the London terror attack, June 2017:
“What do you think the message is? The message is that America doesn’t want to lead. They are not sure of American leadership, whether it be in Siberia or whether it be in Antarctica.” When asked by the Guardian if America’s global reputation was better under Barack Obama, McCain said: “As far as American leadership is concerned, yes.”
After Trump called the press “the enemy of the people” last February:
“I hate the press. But the fact is we need you. We need a free press. We must have it. I’m very serious now, if you want to preserve democracy as we know it, you have to have a free and many times adversarial press. Without it, I am afraid that we would lose so much of our individual liberties over time. That’s how dictators get started.”
On Trump’s dismissal of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, December 2016:
“I don’t know what to make of it because it’s clear the Russians interfered. Whether they intended to interfere to the degree that they were trying to elect a certain candidate, I think that’s a subject of investigation. But facts are stubborn things. They did hack into this campaign.”
On Trump’s dismissal of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, also December 2016:
“No, I have not heard [Trump] criticize Putin. I think reality is going to intercede at one point or another just because of the Russian activities. I hope that with people like [retired Marine Gen. James Mattis and others] that he will very quickly understand what the Russians are all about.”
On Trump spilling intelligence to Russian officials during an Oval Office visit, May 2017:
“Deeply disturbing. Reports that this information was provided by a US ally and shared without its knowledge sends a troubling signal to America’s allies and partners around the world and may impair their willingness to share intelligence with us in the future.”
On whether there was a “realistic scenario” that he’d support ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, January 2017:
“Sure. There’s also a realistic scenario that pigs fly.” (He eventually did.)
After Trump battled a Gold Star parent who spoke at the Democratic Convention, August 2016:
“I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump’s statement. I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers, or candidates.”
On Trump’s desire to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), January 2017:
“A serious mistake that will have lasting consequences for America’s economy and our strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region.”
On the Senate confirming Trump’s cabinet nominees, February 2017:
“I think we should give the president the benefit of the doubt. But at the same time, we have our responsibilities of advise and consent.”
On whether Trump owned McCain an apology for questioning his status as a war hero, July 2015:
“I think he may owe an apology to the families of those who have sacrificed in conflict and those who have undergone the prison experience in serving their country. When Mr. Trump said he prefers to be with people who are not captured, well, the great honor of my life was to serve in the company of heroes. I’m not a hero. But those who were my senior ranking officers, people that got the congressional medal of honor … those that inspired us to do things we otherwise would not have been capable of doing, those are the people that I think he owes an apology to.”
