© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Ailing Republican Sen. John McCain speaks his mind on Trump and ’08 running mate Sarah Palin
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is shown here in a 2017 file photo. (Larry French/Getty Images)

Ailing Republican Sen. John McCain speaks his mind on Trump and ’08 running mate Sarah Palin

Longtime Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), still waging a battle against brain cancer, has made his final wishes known and one of them involves President Donald Trump.

What happened?

McCain is organizing his funeral and had his associates inform the White House that Trump is not invited, the New York Post reported.

Instead he has asked Vice President Mike Pence — the two served in Congress together — to attend. A stream of supporters and politicians have been visiting McCain at his Arizona ranch and at a nearby hospital in recent weeks, according to published reports. Included on that list have been former Vice President Joe Biden and former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.

The 81-year-old McCain was hoping to return the Senate, where he has served since 1987. But his health has prevented his return. In addition to undergoing cancer treatment and surgery, McCain had an intestinal infection last month, the Post reported.

Still, McCain has finished work on his new book, “The Restless Wave,” and an HBO documentary about his life. He also has continued to express his longing for days when politicians could disagree without tearing each other apart, according to the report.

The book, expected to be released later this month, includes McCain's regrets, his battle with cancer and his criticisms of Trump.

What does McCain regret?

McCain ran and lost against Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential race.

Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin was McCain’s pick for vice president. In his book, McCain laments not choosing Joe Lieberman instead. McCain says his advisers warned him that Lieberman, a former Democrat who caucused with other Democrats and supported abortion rights, could ruin his chances.

“It was sound advice that I could reason for myself,” McCain wrote. “But my gut told me to ignore it and I wish I had.”

In the documentary, McCain calls his decision to not pick Lieberman “another mistake I made.”

Despite his statements, McCain still supports Palin’s performance, according to reports.

Trump and McCain began feuding early in the 2016 presidential race. McCain took issue with Trump’s criticisms of Mexican immigrants. About three weeks later, Trump called McCain “incompetent,” and discounted his experience as a war prisoner in Vietnam.

Want to leave a tip?

We answer to you. Help keep our content free of advertisers and big tech censorship by leaving a tip today.
Want to join the conversation?
Already a subscriber?