McCain rips Trump’s Vietnam visit: ‘No mention of human rights – Sad’

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Saturday said it was “sad” that President Trump did not address human rights during a stop in Vietnam.

“@POTUS in #Danang & no mention of human rights – Sad,” McCain wrote on Twitter.

McCain, who was captured and tortured by the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War, has been publicly feuding with Trump for months.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that a bipartisan group of 20 House members urged Trump in a letter earlier this week to discuss “Vietnam’s dismal human rights record” with the country’s leader during a stop in Hanoi on Saturday.

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Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Hanoi on Saturday, Trump said that while he does feel the need to discuss the human rights issue in Vietnam, he is also focused on addressing “many other things.”

“Well, I do. But I also raise issues on many other things. I mean, I have an obligation — we lost, last year, with China, depending on the way you do your numbers, because you can do them a [number of ways] — anywhere from $350 [billion] to $504 billion. That’s with one country. I’m going to fix that,” Trump said when directly asked if he felt the need to talk about human rights abuses in Vietnam.

“And I’ve got to fix what we have with Mexico, who was there today too, who I also have a very good relationship with,” the president added. 

Human Rights Watch describes Vietnam’s record on human rights as “dire in all areas.”

Trump attended a state dinner in Hanoi on Saturday with Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang, where he congratulated the country and its leader on “an outstanding job.”

Trump spoke of touring Hanoi, saying “it’s incredible to see, incredible to watch, and it’s truly one of the great marvels. It really is something to behold. I would would like to congratulate the people of Vietnam, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on an outstanding job.”

“Vietnam has truly become one of the great miracles of the world, and it’s very impressive, no matter where you come from, no matter who you are. If you look at what’s happened in Vietnam, there is nothing more impressive. Thank you very much for this honor, and I look forward to seeing you, Mr. President, many, many times.”