John McCain issues veiled criticism of Trump's Vietnam deferment

US senator John McCain has issued a veiled criticism of President Donald Trump's medical deferments which kept him from serving in the Vietnam War.

John McCain issues veiled criticism of Trump's Vietnam deferment

US senator John McCain has issued a veiled criticism of President Donald Trump's medical deferments which kept him from serving in the Vietnam War.

In an interview with C-SPAN last week, Mr McCain lamented that the military "drafted the lowest income level of America and the highest income level found a doctor that would say they had a bone spur".

McCain discusses some of his experiences in Vietnam

One of Mr Trump's five draft deferments came as a result of a physician's letter stating he suffered from bone spurs in his feet. Mr Trump's presidential campaign described the issue as a temporary problem.

Mr McCain spent six years as a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967.

Mr Trump derided Mr McCain's service in 2015, stating his fellow Republican was not a "war hero", and adding: "I like people who weren't captured."

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