Information First: Trump falsely accused McCain of deceptive the White Home over his intention to vote on the GOP drafted invoice to repeal Obamacare — however McCain on a number of events publicly expressed his opposition previous to the vote. McCain did, nevertheless, marketing campaign on repealing it.
McCain’s actions within the days, and even the hours main as much as his dramatic determination to come back down towards the Republican try to undo the legislation often known as Obamacare, name into query Trump’s model of occasions main as much as the vote.
Talking within the Oval Workplace with reporters on Tuesday, Trump mentioned McCain “advised us, hours earlier than, that he was going to repeal and substitute.”
Trump famous McCain’s no vote got here after “he campaigned on repealing and changing Obamacare for years,” which is true.
“I used to be by no means a fan of John McCain and I by no means will likely be,” Trump added about McCain who died after an extended battle with most cancers final August.
A former McCain aide mentioned Trump lied in regards to the senator’s actions. “Nope. By no means occurred,” the previous aide mentioned. “You are shocked Trump lied?”
The aide pointed to McCain’s speech on the Senate flooring on July 25, 2017, when the senator railed towards the method within the Republican-led chamber that produced the ultimate model of the GOP “repeal and substitute” measure.
“I voted for the movement to proceed to permit debate to proceed and amendments to be provided. I cannot vote for the invoice as it’s right this moment. It is a shell of a invoice proper now. Everyone knows that,” McCain mentioned in his remarks. Two days later, McCain gave the invoice a “thumbs down,” handing Democrats a victory and infuriating White Home aides.
A White Home official disputed the previous McCain aide’s recollection of occasions, however declined to elaborate, remarking that doing so would preserve the feud going.
McCain had stored the Capitol ready in suspense within the hours main as much as the ultimate vote on the so-called “skinny” repeal and substitute laws which got here two days later.
McCain was all the time undecided, and had been a loud critic of the GOP management’s secretive and rushed strategy to drafting the invoice. The small print of the GOP repeal invoice have been unclear even up till the day of the vote as a result of they have been continually tinkering to see what would really be capable of cross.
“I’m not supportive of the laws because it stands right this moment,” McCain mentioned throughout a July 27 information convention.
Indicators of McCain’s opposition continued. At 11:00 p.m., he cryptically advised reporters to “watch for the present” as he went to the Senate flooring as a substitute of answering how he had determined to vote.
Republican leaders have been additionally conscious of McCain’s intentions earlier than the vote, working to alter his thoughts. Reporters watched as McCain had prolonged conversations with numerous his colleagues in addition to Vice President Mike Pence on the Senate flooring. McCain by no means appeared to budge.
For years, Trump has belittled the previous Vietnam Conflict POW and 2008 Republican presidential nominee, as soon as remarking to an viewers in July 2015 that he likes “those who weren’t captured.” Trump has by no means apologized for the remark.
“He is not a struggle hero,” Trump mentioned “He was a struggle hero as a result of he was captured. I like those who weren’t captured.”
Trump’s assault on McCain in 2015 drew widespread condemnation from main GOP figures, a pointy distinction with the muted criticism the President now receives for his continued assaults on the late senator.
Throughout the Vietnam Conflict, McCain was imprisoned for 5 and a half years within the Hoa Lo Jail in Hanoi, the power dubbed by US troopers because the “Hanoi Hilton,” the place he was overwhelmed and tortured.
Trump has traveled to Hanoi twice as President however has but to go to the notorious jail, which is now a museum that options images of McCain whereas he was held in captivity.
