GOP 2016 field defends McCain after Trump’s attacks

by Mark Hensch - 07/18/15 1:37 PM ET

Four Republican presidential candidates defended Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Saturday after Donald Trump mocked his military service.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry called on Trump to end his own 2016 Oval Office bid after hearing the New York business mogul’s remarks.

Rick Perry calls on Donald Trump to withdraw from the race after his remarks on McCain this morning pic.twitter.com/h7MUMWSw07

— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) July 18, 2015

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close friend of McCain’s, said that Trump’s comments should disqualify him from winning the White House next year.

If there was ever any doubt that @realDonaldTrump should not be our commander in chief, this stupid statement should end all doubt.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 18, 2015

.@SenJohnMcCain, like every other POW, went through hell & has earned our respect & gratitude

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 18, 2015

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) also praised McCain’s history as a Vietnam War veteran in Twitter posts that afternoon.

Just told a crowd in Sioux City: @SenJohnMcCain is an American hero

— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) July 18, 2015

.@SenJohnMcCain is an American hero, period.

— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) July 18, 2015

{mosads}Trump taunted McCain’s six years as a prisoner of war during a question-and-answer session of the 2015 Family Values Summit in Ames, Iowa, earlier Saturday.

“He was a war hero because he was captured,” Trump quipped sarcastically to host Frank Luntz. “I like people who weren’t captured.”

The verbal barb came after Luntz challenged Trump over his criticism of McCain’s political career.

The pollster questioned his remarks given McCain is a “war hero.”

“I supported McCain for president,” Trump said of McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign.

“He lost and let us down,” he said, arguing he had spent $1 million on McCain’s Oval Office bid.

“I’ve never liked him as much after that,” Trump added. “I don’t like losers.”

Trump and McCain have feuded in the media following Trump’s July 11 rally against illegal immigration in Phoenix.

McCain said in an interview published Thursday the event appealed to the right wing’s most extreme members.

“It’s very bad,” he said of Trump’s rally earlier this month.

“This performance with our friend in Phoenix is very hurtful,” McCain said.

“Because what he did is he fired up the crazies,” he added. “Now he galvanized them. He’s really got them activated.”

Tags Donald Trump Lindsey Graham Rick Perry Scott Walker

The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.