Sen. John McCain said Monday he has a minimal relationship with President Trump, and said "almost none" when asked to describe it.

McCain, who has exchanged harsh words with Trump since the 2016 Republican primary when the former businessman criticized McCain for being a Vietnam prisoner of war, used an appearance as a special guest of daughter Meghan McCain on ABC's "The View" to also comment on the president's dealings with a Gold Star family grieving the loss of a loved one in the deadly Niger ambush.

"We should not be fighting about a brave American who lost his life serving his country," McCain said of Sgt. La David Johnson and Trump's condolence call to his family, which the family claim was insensitive. "That should not be the topic of discussion in America today."

WATCH: When asked what his relationship is like Pres. Trump, @SenJohnMcCain says "almost none." pic.twitter.com/DvHJrFMCrS — The View (@TheView) October 23, 2017

McCain added that the Senate Armed Services Committee had received scant information about the attack on Johnson's team of 12 by 50 ISIS fighters in the west African country on Oct. 4. The incident left four U.S. troops dead.

"Americans should know what's going on in Niger," McCain said. "Unless you learn the lessons then you're going to repeat [the mistakes]."