A former top adviser to President Trump said Sunday that Sen. John McCain[1] isn’t immune to criticism and has consistently been a thorn in the White House[2]’s side since Mr. Trump came to power.
Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union program, Michael Caputo[3], who served as a communications adviser to Mr. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, pushed back against the notion the White House[4] is out of line for criticizing Mr. McCain[5], Arizona Republican and a frequent critic of the administration.
Mr. McCain[6]’s ongoing tension with the White House[7] reached new heights last week when Kelly Sadler, an administration communications aide, said that Mr. McCain[8]’s political positions don’t matter because he’s “dying anyway.” The comment drew harsh rebukes from both sides of the aisle, but Mr. Caputo[9] countered that the Arizona senator, now battling brain cancer, is a fair target.
“McCain[10] has for the longest time been a combative senator. He’s worked very hard against this president. He’s done things to undermine this president,” Mr. Caputo[11] said. “You have to understand that not everybody on this planet loves John McCain[12]. But at this point in time we all need to step back and let his family and the senator live in peace.”
“Politics ain’t bean bag,” he continued. “This is a very difficult arena and John McCain[13] has been out there punching with the best of them.”
Mr. Caputo[14] did concede that the comment about Mr. McCain[15]’s death “was a joke made in bad taste.”...
Among other clashes with the administration, Mr. McCain[16] cast the deciding vote last year to kill a White House[17]-backed plan to repeal Obamacare. More recently, Mr. McCain[18] also has come out against the president’s pick to lead the CIA, Gina Haspel, adding uncertainty to her prospects for confirmation.