Bridget McCain responds to Trump’s remarks about her father: ‘You are a child in the most important role the world knows’

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

John McCain’s daughter Bridget hit back Thursday against Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on her father by calling the president “a child”.

McCain, the late Arizona senator’s youngest daughter, who rarely speaks publicly, pleaded with Trump for decency after he went after John McCain during an appearance in Ohio.

Bridget McCain issues rare response to Trump's criticism of her father: 'You are a child' – live Read more

She said on Twitter: “Everyone doesn’t have to agree with my dad or like him, but I do ask you to be decent and respectful. If you can’t do those two things, be mindful. We only said goodbye to him almost seven months ago.”

John McCain died of brain cancer in August last year.

“Even if you were invited to my dad’s funeral, you would have only wanted to be there for the credit and not for any condolences,” his daughter said. “Unfortunately, you could not be counted on to be courteous, as you are a child in the most important role the world knows.”

Trump has spent days attacking McCain, with whom he had a contentious relationship.

On Wednesday, at a tank manufacturing plant in Lima, Ohio, Trump said: “I have to be honest. I’ve never liked him much. I really probably never will.”

McCain made it clear before his death that he did not want Trump to be at his funeral, where former presidents Barack Obama and George W Bush delivered eulogies.

Trump said in his latest remarks: “I gave him the kind of funeral that he wanted, which as president I had to approve. I didn’t get a thank you. That’s OK. We sent him on the way. But I wasn’t a fan of John McCain.”

Play Video 1:27 Donald Trump: 'I wasn't a fan of John McCain' – video

Trump seethed with rage against McCain for voting against the repeal of the Affordable Care Act in July 2017. Trump also said Wednesday that McCain, known for his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, “didn’t get the job done for our great vets”.

Elected officials in both parties and McCain’s family members have expressed shock that Trump would launch unprompted attacks against a dead man, especially one considered by many Americans to be a war hero.

Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said the attacks were a mistake. He told CNN: “I don’t like it at all. I’m surprised that he’s doing it.”

Scaramucci said Trump was likely to alienate veterans and other voters with his criticism.

“It’s stupid,” he said. “When you are attacking dead people, it’s not good. That is an unnatural social act, and it will turn people off.”