Sen. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioOvernight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Democrats step up hardball tactics as Supreme Court fight heats up Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP MORE (R-Fla.) on Monday praised retired Adm. William McRaven for his service after President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE derided the ex-military commander as a "Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonDemocratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida The Hill's Campaign Report: Presidential polls tighten weeks out from Election Day More than 50 Latino faith leaders endorse Biden MORE fan" and suggested his forces could have killed Osama bin Laden sooner.

"I don’t know if Adm. William McRaven shares my political views or not. But I do know that few Americans have sacrificed or risked more than he has to protect America & the freedoms we enjoy," Rubio wrote on Twitter.

"His military career exemplified honor & excellence," he added. "I am grateful for his service."

I don’t know if Adm. William McRaven shares my political views or not.



But I do know that few Americans have sacrificed or risked more than he has to protect America & the freedoms we enjoy.



His military career exemplified honor & excellence.



I am grateful for his service. — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 19, 2018

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In an interview that aired on "Fox News Sunday," Trump dismissed McRaven as a "Hillary Clinton fan" and an "Obama-backer" and suggested the U.S. took too long to hunt down bin Laden after anchor Chris Wallace noted that the retired admiral has called the president's rhetoric toward the media "the greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime."

"Wouldn’t it have been nice if we got Osama bin Laden a lot sooner than that, wouldn’t it have been nice?" Trump asked.

"You’re not even going to give them credit for taking down bin Laden?" Wallace responded.

McRaven, who oversaw the 2011 operation that killed bin Laden, doubled down on his criticism in response.

"I stand by my comment that the president's attack on the media is the greatest threat to our democracy in my lifetime," he told CNN. "When you undermine the people's right to a free press and freedom of speech and expression, then you threaten the Constitution and all for which it stands."