McCain: Trump owes an apology to POWs

Sen. John McCain on Monday played down his personal spat with Donald Trump, but said that Trump should apologize to prisoners of war after the GOP presidential candidate’s controversial comments mocking McCain for being captured during the Vietnam War.

{mosads}”He might owe an apology to the families of those who have sacrificed in conflict and those who have undergone the prison experience in serving their country,” McCain (R-Ariz.) said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” adding that Trump didn’t owe him a personal apology.

“Many men and some women who served and sacrificed and happened to be held prisoner. To denigrate that service in any way is offensive to veterans.”

The comments come just minutes after Trump refused to back down during an interview with NBC’s “Today” show in which Trump bashed McCain’s record in Congress on veterans’ issues and immigration. Trump said over the weekend that McCain was not a war hero because he was captured during the war.

McCain had previously drawn the ire of Trump when he referred to those who came to his rally in Arizona as “crazies.” He joked to the “Morning Joe” hosts that he’s been called a “crazy” by many Arizonans during town hall meetings and that he didn’t mean to offend.

“I thought it was a term of endearment,” McCain said with a smile. “I meant it as a term of affection, I’ll be honest with you.”