Eliza Collins

USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump took to Twitter on Thursday morning to attack John McCain following the Arizona senator’s criticism of the White House’s characterizing of a recent raid in Yemen as as a “huge success," despite the death of a Navy SEAL.

"When you lose a $75 million airplane and, more importantly, an American life is lost and wounded I don't believe you can call it a success,” McCain said to NBC News Wednesday. McCain is the chairman of the Armed Services Committee and was briefed on the January strike after its completion.

Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens was killed during the raid along with an undisclosed number of Yemeni civilians.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer had sharp words for anyone who was critical, when he was asked about McCain’s comments during a briefing with reporters Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s absolutely a success and I think anyone who would suggest it’s not a success does disservice to the life of Chief Ryan Owens. He fought knowing what was at stake in that mission and anybody who would suggest otherwise doesn’t fully appreciate how successful that mission was,” Spicer said.

“I think anybody who undermines the success of that raid owes an apology and a disservice to the life of Chief Owens,” Spicer added. “The action that was taken in Yemen was a huge success.”

McCain — who spent more than five years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War — responded to Spicer’s comments by pointing to his own story as an example of a failed mission but told NBC it did not diminish the heroics of the Americans who were fighting.

"Unfortunately, the prison had been evacuated. But the brave men who risked their lives in an effort to rescue us prisoners of war were genuine American heroes," he said, according to NBC. "Because the mission failed did not in any way diminish their courage and willingness to help their fellow Americans who were held captive.

"Mr. Spicer should know that story,” he added.

"Senator McCain will continue to execute his oversight duties as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and support the brave men and women serving our nation in uniform," McCain spokeswoman Julie Tarallo emailed USA TODAY in response to Trump's attacks.

But McCain's daughter had a stronger response.

This is not the first time Trump has attacked McCain. During his presidential campaign Trump said McCain was not a war hero because he was captured while serving in Vietnam. The comment sparked a firestorm of criticism from both parties, but McCain continued to support Trump as the party’s nominee until just before the election.

McCain ultimately withdrew his backing of Trump following the release of a 2005 Access Hollywood video where Trump discussed being able to grope women because of his star-power.

McCain won his re-election for a sixth term to the Senate by double digits in November.

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