John McCain: 'Outrageous' That Reporters Ask Me About Donald Trump

The Republican senator plans to avoid talking about the Republican president-elect until next year.
Get off my lawn!
Get off my lawn!
Bloomberg via Getty Images

WASHINGTON ― Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has had it with reporters asking him about President-elect Donald Trump.

He got mad at a Bloomberg reporter who asked him about Trump’s tax plan, and repeatedly told him he’s not going to talk about the president-elect of the United States. When a PRI reporter asked when he would talk about Trump again, the Arizona senator responded, now somewhat playfully, “On the first of January, I promise to start answering these stupid, idiotic questions.”

McCain’s been saying as much for at least a week. He just doesn’t want to talk about the guy moving into the White House.

The Huffington Post asked him why.

“Because that’s all the conversation is about,” he said. “I’ve said everything that I have to say about him and I am focused on my job, which is defending this nation, not commenting on every move Donald Trump makes.”

His complaints come on a day when he did, in fact, choose to talk about Trump. He penned a 600-word Financial Times op-ed titled “Donald Trump Retreats From Trade Deals At His Peril.”

McCain acknowledged Trump is about to become president of the United States, a position pretty worthy of discussion. But he said he’s waiting until next year, after Trump is sworn in, to answer questions about him.

Asked if that means he won’t talk about anything the president-elect does between now and January, the GOP senator became visibly angry. “I’m sick and tired of only being asked about everything that Donald Trump says or does. I think it’s outrageous and ridiculous that people like you should continue to do so.”

He may have been more blunt than most, but he’s not the only powerful Republican in Congress desperate to talk about something other than the man they helped win the presidency.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) tried to make himself invisible during the presidential campaign. Since the election, he’s punted on questions about Trump falsely tweeting about voter fraud and Trump’s plans to build a wall along the Mexican border. And House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) had this to say when asked Monday about Trump tweeting lies and conspiracy theories: “Who cares?”

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