Donald Trump Attacks John McCain’s Military Record: ‘He’s A War Hero Because He Was Captured’

The GOP presidential contender also says he’s disliked McCain since his loss to Obama in 2008, “I don’t like losers”

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GOP presidential contender Donald Trump attacked Senator John McCain’ military record on Saturday, saying McCain was “not a war hero” because he was captured by North Vietnamese troops while serving in the Vietnam War.

Trump made the remarks during his attendance of the Family Leader Summit in Ames, Iowa in response to McCain’s public criticism of the real estate mogul’s controversial remarks about Mexican immigrants.

“He’s a war hero because he was captured,” said Trump of McCain’s military record. “I like people that weren’t captured.”

Trump, who’s also well-known for hosting NBC’s “The Apprentice,” also revealed that he disliked McCain since his loss to Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

“I never liked him after that,” Trump said. “Because I don’t like losers.”

Republican nominee Ben Carson was asked about Trump’s comments a little later, and although he declined to comment on Trump’s remarks, he also would not offer up his opinion of whether or not McCain was a war hero.

“It depends on your definition of a war hero,” he said instead.

Other presidential contenders were quick to defend Sen. McCain on Twitter, posting their opinions and expressing outrage over Trump’s comments.

McCain and Trump have been at odds since McCain slammed the billionaire during an interview with the New Yorker on Thursday, in which he said that Trump “fired up the crazies” with his immigration-focused rally in Phoenix last weekend.

Trump demanded an apology, and tweeted out that McCain was a “dummy.”

The mogul has been making headlines since his candidacy announcement on June 16. Last month during his presidential announcement speech, Trump called undocumented Mexican immigrants “rapists” and “criminals,” among other things.

Since then a number of business partners have parted ways with the tycoon-turned-politician. Univision and NBC both opted not to broadcast the Miss USA pageant, which Trump co-owns. The pageant, which aired on July 12 aired on Reelz Channel instead. NBC also dumped Trump as host of “The Celebrity Apprentice.”

Additionally, the outspoken Republican was dropped by Macy’s, which carried a Trump menswear line, though he claimed that the decision to part ways with the retailer was actually his.

However, Trump has surged to the top of the GOP candidates. On July 1, a CNN GOP presidential contender poll showed that Trump attracted 12 percent support after his Mexican immigrant remarks, making him second to only former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who got 19 percent.

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