It's been years since his death, but outgoing President Donald Trump continues to slam the late Republican Senator from Arizona, John McCain.
McCain famously cast the deciding vote to preserve the Affordable Care Act—the magnum opus of McCain's former opponent, President Barack Obama. The move infuriated Trump and turned their already tense relationship into open abhorrence.
Trump repeatedly dismissed McCain's status as a war hero because he was "captured" and spent years as a prisoner of war. Trump initially refused to lower White House flags to half staff after McCain's death and mused that McCain could be burning in hell.
Trump's constant disparagements toward McCain were enough to drive the Senator's widow—Cindy McCain—to endorse President-elect Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 election, even though Biden was on the ticket that defeated her husband in the 2008 presidential campaign.
Never one to surrender a grudge, the President tweeted attacks on McCain as recently as Thursday, when he shared an article from the far-right media outlet Breitbart about texts from former FBI agent Peter Strzok, whom Trump has accused of working to undermine his election.
The article alleges that McCain gave journalist Carl Bernstein the Christopher Steele dossier on Russian meddling.
Trump leapt to tweet the piece and deride McCain in the process.
New Peter Strzok Texts Undermine Official Narrative on Start of 'Russia Collusion' Investigation https://t.co/kwmNTZbsYD via @BreitbartNews. Check out last in his class John McCain, one of the most overrated people in D.C.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2020
Trump wrote:
"Check out last in his class John McCain, one of the most overrated people in D.C."
McCain was not "last in his class" when he graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958, but that hasn't stopped Trump from repeating the lie as fact.
McCain's eldest daughter Meghan McCain, a staunch conservative, rebuked Trump in no uncertain terms.
Two years after he died, you still obsess over my dad. It kills you that no one will ever love you or remember you like they loved and remember him. He served his country with honor, you have disgraced the office of the presidency.
You couldn't even pull it out in Arizona... https://t.co/5RBH5LwvQz
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) December 18, 2020
In addition to accusing Trump of disgracing the office of the presidency, Meghan McCain reminded Trump that he lost the state of Arizona to Biden in the 2020 election—the first time the state went blue since 1996.
Some have speculated that Trump's obsession with slamming Senator McCain contributed to his loss in the late Senator's beloved home state—a loss that Trump and his allies have baselessly contested.
People applauded Meghan McCain's response.
Meghan McCain's response to Trump's pathetic attack on her father John McCain who passed away two years ago.
Beautiful.🙏https://t.co/2S8cdH4JmJ
— Amanda Scott (@tantriclens) December 18, 2020
Spot on @MeghanMcCain https://t.co/PQbHlQCJtc
— Jillian Barberie (@askjillian) December 18, 2020
Amen on all counts.
A DISGRACE to humanity.
Worst leader ever. I cant call him Pre.....
Making a MONARCHY OF CONSTITUTION
Democracy https://t.co/B1kLv2HETP
— Kara M Szczepanski (@KaraMSzczepans1) December 18, 2020
So jealous @realDonaldTrump John McCain is so much better than you were and are is. Cant wait for Jan 20th when you will be out. YOU HAVE BEEN FIRED NEED HELP MOVING. ILL HELP FOR FREE. And @MeghanMcCain I couldn't agree with you more. https://t.co/qFHJZpc17S
— Amy Lee Thompson (@amysettle85) December 18, 2020
Yes Ma'am! That's what we were all thinking🇺🇸 https://t.co/iXt70VHfMb
— Melissa G (@MissMeliss12372) December 18, 2020
In two tweets: the difference between dignity and disgrace https://t.co/Ybv8cTj6g9
— Ignaas Devisch (@idevisch) December 18, 2020
Others echoed her defense of her father.
I met Sen McCain. He took time to chat with a young journalist in Washington, D.C. Kind, engaging and decent. He is missed for all that and more. https://t.co/xmbaTw1jrJ
— Jeremy Ross (@JeremyAdamRoss) December 18, 2020
He should keep your father's name out of his mouth and tweets. Your dad was the best ever-and kept it American. https://t.co/cV23cPJs8A
— Debbie Cox (@DebbieC44223528) December 18, 2020
Trump wanted to be admired like @SenJohnMcCain was. The big green monster. https://t.co/w3rQWJTWLQ
— andrea heart 🇺🇸🏴☠️ (@andreaheart19) December 18, 2020
Trump's final day in office is on January 20th.
@WhiteHouse/X
@HomelandSecurityDems