Jimmy McCain, the youngest son of the late Sen. John McCain, recently spoke out against former President Donald Trump’s actions at Arlington National Cemetery during a recent campaign event, calling it a violation. He had been moving away from the Republican Party and recently changed his voter registration to Democrat, planning to vote for Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. McCain, who has served in the military for 17 years, was deeply upset by the use of the cemetery as a backdrop for a political campaign, emphasizing the importance of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
McCain’s decision to speak out against Trump and his shift away from the Republican Party marks a significant departure from his family’s traditionally conservative roots. While other members of the McCain family, including his mother Cindy and sister Meghan, have distanced themselves from Trump, only Jimmy has publicly abandoned the Republican Party. Despite Meghan McCain’s criticisms of Trump, she indicated that she still would not endorse Harris due to her lifelong conservative beliefs. Jimmy McCain, who previously avoided entering the political fray, was deeply hurt by Trump’s attacks on his father but believed they were within the realm of political discourse.
The incident at Arlington National Cemetery, where Trump filmed a campaign event, was particularly upsetting to McCain, who had recently returned from a deployment to a US military base on the Jordan-Syria border. He highlighted the sacrifice and service of the men and women buried in Arlington, contrasting it with Trump’s lack of military experience. McCain believes that Trump’s insecurities about not having served in the military may have influenced his disrespect for fallen service members. He emphasized that his views are his own and do not represent those of the US Army.
Trump’s decision to film a campaign event at Arlington National Cemetery, despite objections from a cemetery staffer and violating federal laws and Army regulations, drew criticism from many, including McCain. His campaign later released footage of the event, including gravestones of service members other than those honored in the wreath-laying ceremony. McCain condemned the action as a violation and a painful experience for the families of those buried there. Trump’s campaign defended the filming, leading to tension with the Army and accusations of a manufactured story.
McCain, who has been involved in veteran advocacy work for years, is now preparing to get more involved in the upcoming election cycle. He acknowledged the deeply personal nature of his political shift, citing his father’s legacy and the impact of Trump’s disparaging comments on him and his family. McCain expressed his deep love and respect for his father, stating that he could not overlook the disrespectful remarks made by Trump. His decision to speak out against Trump and his support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris represent a significant departure from his family’s political history and mark a new chapter in his own political journey.
