Senator John McCain, (R, Ariz.), is rapidly becoming an annoyance for President Donald Trump because of his vast criticism of Trump's policies, and his opposition to denigrating comments that Trump made about women during the 2016 Presidential campaign. McCain has expressed his explicit opposition to Trump's immigration order, in which he banned Muslim immigrants to the United States from several nations, including Syria. Earlier in the week, GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also expressed his opposition to the executive immigration order based upon his belief that "religious tests" are wrong and not in keeping with the Constitution.
More of McCain's objections
Senator McCain also objected to Trump's overtures to Russia and its dictator, Vladimir Putin, and Trump's endorsement of torture as a means of extracting information from prisoners of war, terrorists, traitors and foreign operatives. Additionally, McCain offered little more than minimal endorsement of Rex Tillerson, Trump's nominee for Secretary of State. Finally, McCain totally repudiated Trump for his profuse objection to free trade agreements between the United States and its trading partners.
A self-inflicted wound
McCain, and his GOP colleague Senator Lindsey Graham. (R, S.C.), expressed their fear that the Muslim ban will cause enhanced recruitment and mobilization among Muslims in response to the message of rejection that the ban is sending to Muslims worldwide.
The two senators referred to this phenomenon as Trump's "self-inflicted wound."
McCain and Graham also expressed their fervent fear that the ban would forbid the immigration of Iraqi pilots who are committed to entering the United States to assist in the fight against the Islamic State. Other Iraqis who could be prevented from immigrating to the United States are those who have assisted the U.S.-led coalition in the past and attained immigrant visas to the United States.
Putin the "murderer and thug"
McCain is particularly critical of Trump's friendly overtures to Vladimir Putin, calling the outspoken Russian dictator, "a murderer and a thug," (ABC News, 1-31-17). As McCain sees it, Putin is the leader who is guilty of invading Ukraine, annexing Crimea and supporting Assad's "murderous regime" in Syria.
Trump sued by political organization
Meanwhile, Trump is being sued by the political organization, Citizens for Responsibility and Action, for his failure to divest himself of his foreign financial holdings and interests. As a government official, Trump is required to divest himself of not only the control of is foreign financial interests, but also the ownership of such. To date, Trump only has signed over control of his financial interests to his two sons, but he still owns them.
