Republican presidential hopeful businessman Donald Trump fields questions at The Family Leadership Summit at Stephens Auditorium on July 18, 2015 in Ames, Iowa. According to the organizers the purpose of The Family Leadership Summit is to inspire, motivate, and educate conservatives. (Scott Olson, Getty Images)
When Republican presidential candidate , it unleashed a huge backlash from members of the party.
According to The Associated Press, Trump said McCain “is a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”
It drew boos from the audience and response from members of the GOP:
. is an American hero & all POW’s deserve our nation’s highest debt of gratitude. ‘s comments are disgraceful.
— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry)
As a fellow veteran I respect because he volunteered to serve his country. I cannot say the same about Mr. .
— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry)
.‘s comments today make him unfit to be Commander-in-Chief
— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry)
Enough with the slanderous attacks. and all our veterans – particularly POWs have earned our respect and admiration.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush)
., like every other POW, went through hell & has earned our respect & gratitude
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC)
If there was ever any doubt that should not be our commander in chief, this stupid statement should end all doubt.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC)
If there was ever any doubt that he should not be standard bearer, his growing mountain of stupid statements should end all doubt.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC)
At the heart of statement is a lack of respect for those who have served – a disqualifying characteristic to be president
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC)
RNC Statement via in response to Donald Trump’s comments on :
— RNC (@GOP)
John McCain is an American hero. I have nothing but respect for his service to our country.
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal)
After Donald Trump spends six years in a POW camp, he can weigh in on John McCain’s service
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal)
. is an American hero, period. I’ll denounce any attack against his service and anyone else who wears the uniform. -SW
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker)
Trump also went to Twitter with a response:
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)
Captured or not, all our soldiers are heroes!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
The Veterans of our country have been treated like third class citizens for many years…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
….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)
….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)
All he does is go on television is talk, talk, talk, but incapable of doing anything.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
I will make this right for our great Vets!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
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)
….that has served our country is put on a waiting list and gets no care.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
