Another day, another thing Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump says to put his foot in his mouth.
This time, the business mogul chose to mock decorated war veteran Sen. John McCain, stating that being captured by the North Vietnamese (McCain spent 5 and a half years as a prisoner of war) negates the fellow Republican's war hero status.
"He's not a war hero," Trump said to the nearly 3,000 social conservative activists at the Family Leadership Summit. "He's a war hero because he was captured." He then added, "I like people that weren't captured."
According to the Washington Post, Republicans really aren't having it. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry released a lengthy statement with his thoughts on the matter.
"Donald Trump should apologize immediately for attacking Senator McCain and all veterans who have protected and served our country," Perry said in a statement to the Washington Post. "As a veteran and an American, I respect Sen. McCain because he volunteered to serve his country. I cannot say the same of Mr. Trump. His comments have reached a new low in American politics. His attack on veterans make him unfit to be Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces, and he should immediately withdraw from the race for President."
Trump's response?
“John McCain has not done enough for the veterans," he told reporters. "The veterans in this country are suffering. The veterans in this country are treated as third-class citizens. John McCain talks a lot, but he doesn’t do anything."
This isn't the first time Trump's controversial statements have rubbed some the wrong way (and we're sure it certainly isn't the last). His thoughts on undocumented immigrants from Mexico caused many to pull out support of the Miss Universe pagaent last month.
It's worth noting that Trump received four student deferments and one medical release from serving in the military during the Vietnam war, according to public records.
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