Joe Biden comes to John McCain's defense

(Image credit: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

published 11 May 2018

After a White House staffer on Thursday joked about Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) grim cancer prognosis, others were quick to rush to the ailing senator's defense — including the White House, McCain's daughter Meghan, and, most recently, former Vice President Joe Biden.

Communications aide Kelly Sadler dismissed McCain's disapproval of CIA director nominee Gina Haspel on the grounds that "he's dying anyway." McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer last summer.

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Biden went on to praise McCain for being "a genuine hero," and asserted that future generations would learn from the senator's example. Biden also visited McCain in Arizona during his recovery last weekend, The Hill reported. Read Biden's full statement below. Shivani Ishwar

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Shivani is the editorial assistant at TheWeek.com and has previously written for StreetEasy and Mic.com. A graduate of the physics and journalism departments at NYU, Shivani currently lives in Brooklyn and spends free time cooking, watching TV, and taking too many selfies.