President Trump thanked Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainBiden's six best bets in 2016 Trump states Replacing Justice Ginsburg could depend on Arizona's next senator The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy MORE (R-Ariz.) on Tuesday after McCain returned to Washington this week following his brain cancer diagnosis to cast a key vote on healthcare reform.

Trump thanked the veteran GOP lawmaker on Twitter after McCain cast the deciding vote to begin debate on legislation partially repealing ObamaCare.

The Arizona lawmaker was absent from Congress last week after surgery to remove a blood clot from above his left eye revealed a type of brain cancer. He returned to the Senate on Tuesday to a bipartisan standing ovation.

"Thank you for coming to D.C. for such a vital vote," Trump wrote to McCain on Twitter. "Congrats to all Rep. We can now deliver [great] healthcare to all Americans!"

.@SenJohnMcCain-Thank you for coming to D.C. for such a vital vote. Congrats to all Rep. We can now deliver grt healthcare to all Americans! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2017

Trump also mentioned McCain during a press conference Tuesday shortly after the vote.

"This was a big step. I want to thank Sen. John McCain. Very brave man. He made a tough trip to get here and vote," Trump said. "So we want to thank Sen. McCain and all of the Republicans."

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"We passed it without one Democrat vote. And that's a shame, but that's the way it is. And it's very unfortunate. But I want to congratulate the American people, because we're going give you great healthcare," Trump continued. "And we're going to get rid of ObamaCare, which should have been, frankly, terminated long ago. It's been a disaster for the American people. Thank you very much."

The motion to proceed to the ObamaCare repeal debate narrowly passed Tuesday afternoon, with Vice President Pence casting a tie-breaking vote after two GOP senators joined all Democrats in opposing the motion.

Senate Republicans are considering several legislative courses on healthcare, including a straight repeal of ObamaCare with a two-year delay, a Senate repeal-and-replace bill and a slimmed-down repeal that would end the individual and employer mandates as well as a tax on medical devices.

It's unclear whether any of those measures would be able to win the support of enough Republicans to pass the Senate.

"I applaud the Senate for taking a giant step to end the Obamacare nightmare," Trump said in a statement. "As this vote shows, inaction is not an option, and now the legislative process can move forward as intended to produce a bill that lowers costs and increases options for all Americans."

"The Senate must now pass a bill and get it to my desk so we can finally end the Obamacare disaster once and for all," Trump added.