Kelly and McSally defend John McCain after reports of presidential insults
President Trump calls article in The Atlantic "fake news"
TUCSON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona leaders continue to react strongly to insults reportedly made by the President Donald Trump ahead of Senator John McCain's funeral.
In an article published Thursday in The Atlantic, four senior White House staffers anonymously claim the president had harsh words for the late senator in the days after his death.
The piece claims the president told aids, “We’re not going to support that loser’s funeral."
The article goes on to claim Trump became furious when he saw flags flying at half staff for the senator, telling staffers, “What the (expletive) are we doing that for? Guy was a (expletive) loser.”
The White House calls the reporting "false," and the President himself took to Twitter to deny the claims, writing:
I was never a big fan of John McCain, disagreed with him on many things including ridiculous endless wars and the lack of success he had in dealing with the VA and our great Vets, but the lowering of our Nations American Flags, and the first class funeral he was given by our....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2020
..Country, had to be approved by me, as President, & I did so without hesitation or complaint. Quite the contrary, I felt it was well deserved. I even sent Air Force One to bring his body, in casket, from Arizona to Washington. It was my honor to do so. Also, I never called..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2020
....John a loser and swear on whatever, or whoever, I was asked to swear on, that I never called our great fallen soldiers anything other than HEROES. This is more made up Fake News given by disgusting & jealous failures in a disgraceful attempt to influence the 2020 Election!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2020
Democratic Senate candidate Mark Kelly rose quickly to defend the late senator. Kelly, who wants to fill the seat McCain held for more than 30-years, also used Twitter to react saying:
The president's words about Senator McCain have always said far more about his own character than the Senator's. None of it will ever change what he means to the U.S. Navy, Arizona, our country, or me. We remember him as a hero.
— Captain Mark Kelly (@CaptMarkKelly) September 3, 2020
Senator Martha McSally, (R-Ariz.) who currently is filling a portion of McCain's term, released this statement to Arizona Republic Thursday:
"As I have said many times, I have the deepest respect for Senator McCain, who is an American hero. I am honored to be serving in his seat."
-Statement from Sen. Martha McSally, (R-Ariz.)
Sen. McCain died in August of 2018 after battling brain cancer. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey initially appointed former Senator Jon Kyle to fill the seat temporarily. After Kyle stepped down, Ducey appointed McSally to fill the seat until the November general election.
The appointment came just months after McSally lost her own bid for the Senate seat now held by Democrat Krysten Sinema.
