Donald Trump draws flak as he mocks John McCain over injury sustained as prisoner of war

NEWTON, IOWA: In a controversial move, Donald Trump mocked former Senator and Navy officer John McCain for the injuries he sustained during his time as a prisoner of war.

The former President ridiculed the late Senator while addressing his supporters at the 'Commit to Caucus' rally in Newton, Iowa, on Saturday, January 6.

Blaming McCain for Obama Care Trump and pointing out his disability, Trump said, "Obamacare is a catastrophe, nobody talks about it. You know, without John McCain, we would have had it done, but John McCain, for some reason, couldn't get his arm up that day, remember?"

Imitating the Navy officer's hand gesture, he added, "He goes … like … that was the end of that."

According to an ABC News report, McCain got injured while being a prisoner of war in North Vietnam until 1973. He was unable to lift his arm above his head due to an injury from an aircraft crash during the war. The North Vietnamese refused to give him medical treatment initially, which left him with lifelong ailments.

He served in the US Senate representing Arizona from 1987 until he died in 2018.

John McCain's daughter slams Donald Trump

The late Senator's daughter, Meghan McCain, called out the former President's mockery of her father through an X (formerly Twitter) post.

Praising her father as an 'American hero' and an 'icon', she wrote that he was a "patriot that will be remembered throughout history."

"I cannot buy a bagel without someone approaching me about how much they loved and miss him."

Continuing the post, she slammed the Republican frontrunner, saying, "Trump is a piece of sh**, election denying, huckster whose own wife won't campaign with him."

According to USA Today, Trump's feud with McCain started in the early 2000 when the former considered a run for the White House. The former President, on multiple occasions, ridiculed the late Senator, refusing to acknowledge him as a war hero because he was captured.

Internet slams Donald Trump

Netizens are outraged at the White House hopeful for degrading McCain's war injuries even after his death.

Social media responses underscored that Trump's envy, stemming from a perceived lack of respect compared to the late Navy officer, drove him to stoop so low.

 One user remarked, "Yeah he’s not getting Arizona."

Another user wrote, "He really holds a grudge."

"Trump hates John McCain because he knows he'll never be as respected and honored as John McCain," read a third response.

One user added, "Men who don’t have integrity don’t understand those who do." Another user called Trump's remarks "Shameful !!!!"

A sixth user stated, "He’s a small, pathetic loser. Deep down, I believe he knows it." Another reaction read, "Spite, mockery, and cruelty are Trump's trademarks."

"He's always been jealous of John McCain & other veterans since he was too scared to put a uniform on five times. Deferment Don," one user wrote. 

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