He's at it again. Donald Trump got caught in the Twitter crossfires on Saturday, July 18, when he said that Sen. John McCain is not a war hero. The remark was made during the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa.
"He's not a war hero," Trump, 69, said via the New York Post. "He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured."
The Republican presidential candidate also called McCain a "loser." The 78-year-old former naval officer — who spent over five years in a Vietnamese prison in the late '60s — has yet to respond.
Trump has been under fire for the past several weeks after his controversial comments about Mexican immigrants. (He more recently said that the U.S. should boycott Mexico altogether.) He's been fired from NBC, and his Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants were dropped from the network.
Trump's latest remarks about McCain is no different. The former Celebrity Apprentice host is receiving huge backlash, with even fellow GOP presidential candidates criticizing him.
"John McCain is an American hero," Gov. Scott Walker tweeted. Rick Perry added: "As a fellow veteran I respect @SenJohnMcCain because he volunteered to serve his country. I cannot say the same about Mr. @realDonaldTrump."
Hours later, Trump tried to backtrack. "Captured or not, all our soldiers are heroes!" he tweeted. "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."
Check out more reactions from McCain's daughter, Meghan McCain, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, and more below:
Donald Trump is my favorite comedy series right now.
— braden graeber (@hipstermermaid) July 18, 2015
I can't believe what I am reading this morning. Horrified. Disgusted. There are no words.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) July 18, 2015
I have a brother that just returned from Afghanistan a month ago, glad he can come home to this being said about his father and his service.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) July 18, 2015
I know @SenJohnMcCain. Senator John McCain is an American hero. Period. Stop.
— Chris Christie (@ChrisChristie) July 18, 2015
Enough with the slanderous attacks. @SenJohnMcCain and all our veterans – particularly POWs have earned our respect and admiration.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) July 18, 2015
.@SenJohnMcCain is an American hero. Every breath I breathe and every step I take is free because of brave Americans like John McCain.
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) July 18, 2015
When our troops return from combat, they should be treated with the utmost respect and admiration.
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) July 18, 2015
