Joe Biden comes to John McCain's defense

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.

Sadler issued apologies to McCain's family, but that didn't stop Biden from releasing a strong statement on the matter, accusing the Trump administration of hitting "rock bottom" with their "trail of disrespect" towards the senator.

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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