Speaking at the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa, Donald Trump ignited a firestorm of controversy when he blasted Senator John McCain for being a prisoner-of-war during the Vietnam War.
Senator McCain became the topic when Trump brought up illegal immigration, which he has brought to the national forefront as his main campaign issue. His comments on that have also been controversial as he has called undocumented Hispanic immigrants “rapists.”
“He is not a war hero,” Trump said to the crowd. Pollster Frank Luntz, who questioned both candidates and the crowd, responded by saying, “He is a war hero.” Trump then cut Luntz off and said that McCain is only seen as a war hero because he was captured by the Vietnamese. Trump continued, “I like people that weren’t captured, OK? I hate to tell you. He is a war hero because he was captured. OK, you can have — I believe perhaps he is a war hero.”
Reaction from the crowd was mixed. There were audible gasps and boos, but also applause. The reaction has been mixed online as well. While most were quick to condone his remarks, some supporters have stood by Trump on social media platforms, such as Facebook.
On Facebook, Trump continued his attacks on Senator McCain. He ripped McCain as a typical politician who is not getting results, “I am not a fan of John McCain because he has done so little for our Veterans [sic] and he should know better than anybody what the Veterans need, especially in regards to the VA. He is yet another all talk, no action politician who spends too much time on television and not enough time doing his job and helping the Vets.”
On Twitter, Trump added new attacks to his arsenal. He ripped McCain for losing to then-Senator Obama and pledged to fix the crisis-plagued Department of Veterans Affairs.
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
One of the reasons I am no fan of John McCain is that our Vets are being treated so badly by him and the politicians. I will fix VA quickly.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2015
Senator McCain’s daughter, conservative commentator Meghan McCain, blasted Trump’s remarks on Twitter and said she was “disgusted.”
I can’t believe what I am reading this morning. Horrified. Disgusted. There are no words.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) July 18, 2015
Senator McCain’s office said he would have no comment on Trump’s remarks.
Senator McCain was captured and taken as a prisoner-of-war during the Vietnam War in 1967. While a prisoner, he was kept in solitary confinement for two years. He was offered a release, but he refused it unless every prisoner captured before was released as well. This was due McCain’s following of the Armed Forces’ Code of Conduct. The Vietnamese had offered the release for propaganda purposes and in an attempt to break other prisoners by showing noteworthy prisoners getting better treatment. McCain’s father, Jack McCain, was named leader of all American forces in Vietnam during his imprisonment. Following McCain’s refusal of early release, he was given increasingly harsh torture.
McCain rarely speaks about the experience.