President Trump arrived home at the White House late Wednesday after a rally in Ohio where he once again criticized John McCain - prompting a number of Republicans to express their admiration for the late senator.
The president wore a downcast expression on his face as he stepped off Marine One moments after the helicopter landed on the South Lawn of the White House late Wednesday.
'Leaving the GREAT STATE of OHIO for the White House,' Trump tweeted just before taking off for Washington, D.C.
'A really great day!'
President Trump arrived home at the White House late Wednesday after a rally in Ohio
The president wore a downcast expression on his face as he stepped off Marine One moments after the helicopter landed on the South Lawn of the White House late Wednesday
Trump is seen above disembarking from Marine One after it landed on the South Lawn
Trump also tweeted quotes from Fox News denouncing the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
The Mueller probe is looking into allegations that Russia meddled in the 2016 election to help Trump - a charge that both the president, his supporters, and the Russian government deny.
In another tweet, Trump referred to James Comey, the former director of the FBI, as a 'dirty cop' for 'leaking his memos to a friend...who leaked them to the press on purpose.'
Trump has come under fire from Democrats and even some Republicans who took issue with the president's repeated barbs against McCain, the senator from Arizona who died of brain cancer this past summer.
House Rep. Peter King, the Republican congressman from Long Island, called out Trump by name on Wednesday.
'Leaving the GREAT STATE of OHIO for the White House,' Trump tweeted just before taking off for Washington, D.C. 'A really great day!'
Trump also tweeted quotes from Fox News denouncing the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller
In another tweet, Trump referred to James Comey, the former director of the FBI, as a 'dirty cop' for 'leaking his memos to a friend...who leaked them to the press on purpose'
King tweeted: 'Time for @POTUS Trump to end the shots at John McCain a true patriot, good man and true friend.'
Other Republicans came to McCain's defense, but they did not mention the president.
'John McCain was a true American hero and a good friend,' said Dan Sullivan, the U.S. senator from Alaska.
'He wasn’t perfect; nobody is.
'But his decades of service and sacrifice to America were distinguished, unwavering and exemplary.
'Let’s let him Rest In Peace.'
Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia said not only the McCain family but the nation 'deserves better' than Trump’s disparagement.
'I don’t care if he’s president of the United States, owns all the real estate in New York, or is building the greatest immigration system in the world,' Isakson told The Bulwark, a conservative news and opinion website.
Trump has come under fire from Democrats and even some Republicans, like House Rep. Peter King of New York, who took issue with the president's repeated barbs against McCain, the senator from Arizona who died of brain cancer this past summer
'John McCain was a true American hero and a good friend,' said Dan Sullivan, the U.S. senator from Alaska. 'He wasn’t perfect; nobody is. But his decades of service and sacrifice to America were distinguished, unwavering and exemplary. Let’s let him Rest In Peace'
Pushback also came from Sen. Martha McSally, a Republican Air Force veteran appointed to McCain’s seat from Arizona. 'John McCain is an American hero and I am thankful for his life of service and legacy to our country and Arizona,' she tweeted Wednesday
Later, Isakson called Trump’s remarks 'deplorable.'
'It will (be) deplorable seven months from now if he says it again,' Isakson continued in remarks on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Political Rewind radio show, 'and I will continue to speak out.'
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, the GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee whom Trump briefly considered nominating as secretary of state, tweeted praise for McCain on Tuesday — and criticism of Trump.
'I can’t understand why the President would, once again, disparage a man as exemplary as my friend John McCain: heroic, courageous, patriotic, honorable, self-effacing, self-sacrificing, empathetic, and driven by duty to family, country, and God,' Romney wrote.
Pushback also came from Sen. Martha McSally, a Republican Air Force veteran appointed to McCain’s seat from Arizona.
'John McCain is an American hero and I am thankful for his life of service and legacy to our country and Arizona,' she tweeted Wednesday.
'Everyone should give him and his family the respect, admiration, and peace they deserve.'
That McSally declined to criticize Trump directly reflected the broader wariness among Republicans to cross a president famous for mobilizing his followers against GOP lawmakers he deems disloyal.
But this week, Trump seemed to inspire a new determination among some to draw a line, however delicately.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, who wept openly on the Senate floor after McCain died but has allied himself strongly with Trump, said, 'I think the president’s comments about Sen. McCain hurt him more than they hurt the legacy of Sen. McCain.'
Graham hit out at Democrats and others who long criticized McCain, saying that they are now using him as a tool to attack Trump.
The president hit out at John McCain on Wednesday for handing over a copy of the Steele Dossier to the FBI. Trump is seen above on Wednesday in Lima, Ohio
'A lot of people [who] are coming to John's defense now [are the same people] that called him crazy and a warmonger, so it's kind of interesting to see the politics of how this dispute's being used to bash Trump by people who were against both Trump and McCain,' said Graham.
Democratic leaders, meanwhile, were eager to jump into the uproar.
'I look forward to soon re-introducing my legislation re-naming the Senate Russell Building after American hero, Senator John McCain,' tweeted Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer of New York.
Trump once again attacked McCain on Wednesday, this time suggesting the Vietnam war hero should have come to him after he was first handed a copy of the Golden Showers dossier.
The president also said that the McCain family wasn't grateful enough to him for approving state funeral arrangements for the late senator.
'I endorsed him at his request and I gave him the kind of funeral that he wanted, which as
