The subject of whether the White House owes Sen. John McCain an apology for an aide's disparaging comment did not come up during President Donald Trump's lunch meeting Tuesday with Republican senators, GOP senators said.
But the Senate's top Republican told reporters afterward that the White House official who disparaged the Arizona Republican should apologize. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said the official, communications aide Kelly Sadler, "should and apologize publicly."
Sadler had dismissed McCain's opposition to Trump's CIA nominee Gina Haspel in a private meeting by saying, "He's dying anyway." She has apologized privately to Meghan McCain, the senator's daughter, but has not issued a public apology.
The 81-year-old McCain was diagnosed in July with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
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