The incident involving Donald Trump’s campaign headquarters at Arlington National Cemetery was the last straw for Jimmy McCain, R-Ariz., the youngest son of the late Sen. John McCain.
In an interview Tuesday on CNNMcCain said that after the events at the cemetery last week, he registered as a Democrat and decided to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris this fall.
McCain, who recently returned from serving at a military base in Jordan three Reserve Army soldiers Killed in January, he said he had switched party affiliation and put “country first” to honor his father.
“I care about my family. I care about everyone in this country having equal rights. I care about all of this,” McCain said. “While I was staying independent, I decided it was time to, you know, move on and do what I believe in.”
McCain called Arlington National Cemetery “sacred” and said three generations of his family are buried there. He called Trump’s Arlington incident a “disruption.”
Last week, Trump visited the cemetery with relatives of those killed in the Abbey Gate attack on Kabul airport during the withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan three years ago. According to the military, a member of Trump’s team “Suddenly pushed aside” cemetery official so campaign workers can take photos and videos in an area that is normally off-limits. Trump’s team disputed the Army’s account.
“Arlington Cemetery should go and honor the men and women who have given their lives for this country,” McCain said. “When you politicize it, you lose the respect of the people there.”
McCain also said he never forgave Trump for calling his father a “dummy” and that he was “not a war hero” because he was captured.
“He’s not a war hero,” Trump said 2015 comments. “He’s a war hero because he was captured. I love people who aren’t captured.”
Trump, who never served in the military, later said: “He’s a war hero because he was captured. OK, I believe — maybe he is a war hero.”
John McCain was tortured in Vietnam and spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war.
Responding to McCain’s statements to CNN, Trump campaign press secretary Caroline Leavitt said there has never been a greater advocate for the military than Trump.
“President Trump has rebuilt the military after eight years of decline under Obama/Biden, delivered the largest pay raise for our troops in a decade, and became the first leader since Ronald Reagan not to start a new war and put our troops in harm’s way. “he said.
There is Trump He repeatedly insulted John McCain over the years, even after Arizona Sen Death in 2018.
Meghan McCain, daughter of John McCain, He wrote in X As of Tuesday, he remains a Republican but will not vote for Trump or Harris in November.
“I have great respect for the different political opinions of all my family members and I love them all very much,” Meghan McCain said. “However, I remain a proud member of the Republican Party and look forward to brighter days ahead.”
The Harris campaign touted McCain’s endorsement of the vice president in news releases and on social media Tuesday.