Mitt Romney said on Friday that no man has better exemplified honor in the past century than Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), shortly after McCain’s family announced that he has chosen to discontinue medical treatment for his aggressive brain cancer.
“No man this century better exemplifies honor, patriotism, service, sacrifice, and country first than Senator John McCain,” Romney said in a tweet.
“His heroism inspires, his life shapes our character,” Romney continued. “I am blessed and humbled by our friendship.”
McCain faced off with Romney in the GOP presidential primary in 2008, but later ended up endorsing him as McCain went on to run against then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
{mosads}“He clearly ran a very impressive campaign in ’08,” McCain said of Romney at the time.
“Two, there are a lot of admirers of Gov. Romney in my state. He did very well in Arizona in the primary. And he’s viewed by many — I think very appropriately — as one of the leading candidates for the Republican nomination in 2012.”
Romney became the Republican Party’s presidential nominee in 2012, but went on to lose against Obama. He’s currently running for Senate in Utah.
McCain was first diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2017 after he had surgery to remove a blood clot above his left eye.
His family’s announcement of his decision to forgo treatment comes days before the Arizona Republican’s 82nd birthday.