President Obama Shares a Moving Tribute to John McCain

 The longtime Senator and war hero has died at 81.
 

President Obama has issued a moving statement about Senator John McCain's death. McCain, who had been suffering from brain cancer, passed away today surrounded by his wife Cindy and their family after stopping treatment earlier this week.

"Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John’s best, he showed us what that means." wrote the former president in a statement. Read the full text here:

Fmr. President Obama on death of John McCain:

"Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John’s best, he showed us what that means."

— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 26, 2018

Obama, who ran against McCain in the 2008 election, was one of many who have reacted to the news of the longtime Senator's passing.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, who despite their political differences was close friends with McCain and even once likened him to a brother, also made a lengthy statement.

"John McCain was many things – a proud graduate of the Naval Academy, a Senate colleague, a political opponent," he wrote on Twitter. "But, to me, more than anything, John was a friend. He will be missed dearly."

Read his full statement below:

John McCain was many things – a proud graduate of the Naval Academy, a Senate colleague, a political opponent.

But, to me, more than anything, John was a friend. He will be missed dearly.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 26, 2018

President Trump has also expressed sympathy to McCain's family regarding the Senator's passing. On Twitter he wrote, "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!"

My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018

McCain and trump have had a complicated relationship. During his presidential campaign, Trump alleged that McCain was "not a war hero."

"He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured,” Trump said during a forum in Ames, Iowa, alluding to the more than five years that McCain spent as a POW during the Vietnam war.

In May, it was widely reported that McCain does not want Trump to attend his funeral.

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