Senator John McCain proved that he’s the Grand Poobah of RINOs (Republicans in name only) after trashing President Trump yet again in order to pander to the media.

Leftist hack Chuck Todd of “Meet the Press” asked McCain what he thought of Trump’s tweet calling the dishonest press an “enemy of the American people.”

McCain responded by shamelessly brown-nosing the self-absorbed media and braying the Democratic talking point comparing Trump to a dictator.

“I hate the press, I hate you especially,” McCain joked meekly. “But the fact is we need you, we need a free press. That’s how dictators get started. They get started by suppressing free press.”

‘That’s how dictators get started’: @SenJohnMcCain defends the free press in exclusive @MeetThePress interview pic.twitter.com/yUINj0plIU — Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) February 18, 2017

The 80-year-old career politician then tried to walk back his anti-Trump rhetoric. “I am not saying that President Trump is trying to be a dictator,” he said. “I am just saying we need to learn the lessons of history.”

The latest controversy erupted after the president slammed mainstream press (which leans 90% liberal) for pushing fake news and propaganda in order to undermine him.

Trump said the fake news media is “the enemy of the American people.” This is correct, because the media’s job is to objectively report facts. Instead, it has repeatedly called the president a “liar” and compared him to Hitler. That’s not objective. Nor is it journalism; it’s punditry.

Trump also never called for a “shutdown” of the press. He just wants honest reporting over fake news and leftist propaganda masquerading as “journalism.”

While McCain’s base (liberal Democrats) applauded his shameless media suck-up, conservatives on Twitter let him have it.

CNN isn't free press John McCain! It sensors and denounces anyone that doesn't suscribe to their talking points. You're an idiot McCain! — Anonymous (@RicksRant) February 19, 2017

When McCain actually gets off his ass and does something, I'll listen. — ?️‍?? (@balotah_says) February 18, 2017

The pathetic loser Neocon warmonger John McCain thinks "free press" means you get to make up shit and report it. #MeetThePress — Vincent Taddei ? (@VincentTaddei) February 19, 2017

Many reminded the media why much of the public think they’re an arm of the Democratic Party.

free press? Where do the media find their funding exactly? Haha free press… — Victor Larsen (@VicsenLartor) February 19, 2017

.

.

? Burn..Burn..Burn ?

?Newspapers ? ?Your ? Ship Sank ?

after you went ALL IN for Hillary! ?Social Media Trumped Newspapers? pic.twitter.com/2j8qYven3N — Trump-Star (@TrumpGalaxy) February 18, 2017

#veryfakenews Media colluded with Hillary to sway the public. Journalist need to clean up their act. pic.twitter.com/9HvL5rbc2C — ❌Raised Right❌ (@RightMsmagnolia) February 19, 2017

Moms furious that middle school forces children to learn about Islam but not Christianity