Cindy McCain, the wife of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), made it clear Thursday that she was strongly displeased with reports that a White House official “joked” about her husband’s health. The mocking comment reportedly came during a meeting about Gina Haspel, the president’s pick for CIA director.
McCain, who was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War and now is fighting brain cancer, opposes Haspel’s controversial nomination. Multiple news outlets reported that White House aide Kelly Sadler, in response to McCain’s opposition at Thursday’s meeting, said, “He’s dying anyway.”
A source told CNN’s Jim Acosta that the “joke… fell flat.”
A WH official confirms WH aide Kelly Sadler mocked John McCain’s cancer diagnosis saying “he’s dying anyway” in response to his opposition to Haspel nomination. The “joke… fell flat” the official said.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 10, 2018
Cindy McCain tweeted directly at Sadler soon after.
“May I remind you my husband has a family, 7 children and 5 grandchildren,” she wrote.
@kellysadler45 May I remind you my husband has a family, 7 children and 5 grandchildren.
— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) May 10, 2018
According to CNN, Sadler called McCain’s daughter, Meghan, to apologize. Meghan McCain, a co-host on The View, is expected to address to the comment Friday on the ABC program.
CNN is reporting that @kellysadler45 called @MeghanMcCain to apologize today for her insensitive remarks about her father.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 11, 2018
The White House issued a statement Thursday in response to Sadler’s remark but didn’t mention the aide or her comment.
“We respect Senator McCain’s service to our nation, and he and his family are in our prayers during this difficult time,” the statement said.
WH released statement from an “official” to respond to staffer’s McCain cancer comment: “We respect Senator McCain's service to our nation, and he and his family are in our prayers during this difficult time." (*Nobody had the guts to put their name on it) https://t.co/OhgC0btsT1
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 10, 2018
H/T Huffington Post