Editing John McCain (section)

== Senate career after 2008 ==
{{Main|US Senate career of John McCain (2001–2014)}}

=== Remainder of fourth Senate term ===

[[US Senate career of John McCain (2001–2014)#Activities after Obama election to presidency|Following his defeat, McCain returned to the Senate]] amid varying views about what role he might play there.<ref>Mooney, Alexander. [http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/18/mccain.future/index.html "McCain may face bumpy shift from White House run"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118214847/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/18/mccain.future/index.html |date=November 18, 2008 }}, [[CNN]] (November 18, 2008). Retrieved November 21, 2008.</ref> McCain indicated that he intended to run for [[2010 United States Senate election in Arizona|re-election to his Senate seat in 2010]].<ref>Cillizza, Chris. [http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/11/mccains_next_step.html "McCain's Next Step: Re-Election in 2010"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708233419/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/11/mccains_next_step.html |date=July 8, 2009 }}, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (November 19, 2008). Retrieved November 21, 2008.</ref> As the inauguration neared, Obama consulted with McCain on a variety of matters, to an extent rarely seen between a president-elect and his defeated rival,<ref>Kirkpatrick, David D. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/us/politics/19mccain.html "Obama Reaches Out for McCain's Counsel"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415202642/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/us/politics/19mccain.html |date=April 15, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'' (January 19, 2009). Retrieved January 20, 2009.</ref> and President Obama's inauguration speech contained an allusion to McCain's theme of finding a purpose greater than oneself.<ref>Brune, Tom. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090712220416/http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/wednesday/nation/ny-usanal2112376956jan21%2C0%2C3845582.story "Obama speech strong but anti-climatic" (sic)], ''[[Newsday]]'' (January 20, 2009). Retrieved January 20, 2009.</ref>

[[File:President Barack Obama and Senator John McCain press conference.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Barack Obama speaking in foreground at an indoor event with an American flag in background; John McCain behind him, somewhat of focus| President [[Barack Obama]] and McCain at a press conference in March 2009]]

Nevertheless, McCain emerged as a leader of the Republican opposition to the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|Obama economic stimulus package of 2009]], saying it incorporated federal policy changes that had nothing to do with near-term job creation and would expand the growing federal budget deficit.<ref>Hulse, Carl and Herszenhorn, David M. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/us/politics/07stimulus.html "Senators Reach Deal on Stimulus Plan as Jobs Vanish"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427173556/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/us/politics/07stimulus.html |date=April 27, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'' (February 6, 2009). Retrieved February 7, 2009.</ref> McCain also voted against Obama's Supreme Court nomination of [[Sonia Sotomayor]]—saying that while undeniably qualified, "I do not believe that she shares my belief in judicial restraint"<ref>[[Kelly O'Donnell|O'Donnell, Kelly]] and Montanaro, Domenico. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090805042848/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/08/03/2018373.aspx "McCain to vote against Sotomayor"], [[NBC News]] (August 3, 2009). Retrieved August 22, 2009.</ref>—and by August 2009 was siding more often with his Republican Party on closely divided votes than ever before in his senatorial career.<ref>Giroux, Greg. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090822120228/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003192795 "McCain: Maverick No More?"], [[CQ Politics]] (August 19, 2009). Retrieved August 22, 2009.</ref> McCain reasserted that the War in Afghanistan was winnable<ref>McCain, John and others. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203440104574404753110979442 "Only Decisive Force Can Prevail in Afghanistan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824012052/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203440104574404753110979442 |date=August 24, 2017 }}, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' (September 13, 2009). Retrieved November 17, 2009.</ref> and criticized Obama for a slow process in deciding whether to send additional troops there.<ref name="time-voice">Newton-Small, Jay. [https://web.archive.org/web/20091011095913/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1929092,00.html "John McCain: Can He Mend Fences with the Right?"], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (October 8, 2009). Retrieved November 20, 2009. In print magazine as "Voice in the Wilderness", October 19, 2009.</ref>

McCain also harshly criticized Obama for scrapping construction of the [[U.S. missile defense complex in Poland]], declined to enter negotiations over climate change legislation similar to what he had proposed in the past, and strongly opposed the [[Obama health care plan]].<ref name="time-voice" /><ref name="pol111909">Lerer, Lisa. [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29747.html "John McCain slams 'horrendous' climate bill"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726195404/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29747.html |date=July 26, 2010 }}, ''[[Politico]]'' (November 19, 2009). Retrieved November 20, 2009.</ref> McCain led a successful filibuster of a measure that would allow repeal of the military's "[[Don't ask, don't tell]]" policy towards gays.<ref>Shane, Leo, III, [http://www.stripes.com/news/don-t-ask-don-t-tell-reversal-measure-falters-in-senate-1.119042 "'Don't ask, don't tell' reversal measure falters in Senate"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925074505/http://www.stripes.com/news/don-t-ask-don-t-tell-reversal-measure-falters-in-senate-1.119042 |date=September 25, 2010 }}, ''[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]'', September 21, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2010.</ref> Factors involved in McCain's new direction included Senate staffers leaving, a renewed concern over national debt levels and the scope of federal government, a possible Republican primary challenge from conservatives in 2010, and McCain's campaign edge being slow to wear off.<ref name="time-voice" /><ref name="pol111909" /> As one longtime McCain advisor said, "A lot of people, including me, thought he might be the Republican building bridges to the Obama Administration. But he's been more like the guy blowing up the bridges."<ref name="time-voice" />

[[File:Flickr - europeanpeoplesparty - EPP in the USA (18).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Man in office with old-style furnishings|McCain in his Senate office, November 2010]]

In early 2010, a primary challenge from radio talk show host and former U.S. Congressman [[J. D. Hayworth]] materialized in the Senate election in Arizona and drew support from some but not all elements of the Tea Party movement.<ref name="nyt020910" /><ref name="wapo052210" /> With Hayworth using the campaign slogan "The Consistent Conservative", McCain said—despite his own past use of the term on a number of occasions<ref name="wapo052210" /><ref>Jacobson, Louis. [http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/apr/06/john-mccain/mccains-ultimate-maverick-move-denial/ "McCain's ultimate maverick move, denial"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031071022/http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/apr/06/john-mccain/mccains-ultimate-maverick-move-denial/ |date=October 31, 2014 }}, [[PolitiFact]] (April 6, 2010). Retrieved October 31, 2014.</ref>—"I never considered myself a maverick. I consider myself a person who serves the people of Arizona to the best of his abilities."<ref>[[David Margolick|Margolick, David]]. [http://www.newsweek.com/id/235883 "The McCain Mutiny"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428183721/http://www.newsweek.com/id/235883 |date=April 28, 2010 }}, ''[[Newsweek]]'' (April 3, 2010). Retrieved April 6, 2010.</ref> The primary challenge coincided with McCain reversing or muting his stance on some issues such as the bank bailouts, closing of the [[Guantánamo Bay detention camp]], campaign finance restrictions, and gays in the military.<ref name="nyt020910">Steinhauer, Jennifer. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/us/politics/09arizona.html "From Right of Radio Dial, Challenge to McCain"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010032045/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/us/politics/09arizona.html |date=October 10, 2016 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'' (February 9, 2010). Retrieved February 13, 2010.</ref>

When the health care plan, now called the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], passed Congress and became law in March 2010, McCain strongly opposed the landmark legislation not only on its merits but also on the way it had been handled in Congress. As a consequence, he warned that congressional Republicans would not work with Democrats on anything else: "There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year. They have poisoned the well in what they've done and how they've done it."<ref>O'Brien, Michael. [https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/64834-mccain-dont-expect-gop-cooperation-on-legislation-for-the-rest-of-this-year/ "McCain: Don't expect GOP cooperation on legislation for the rest of this year"], ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' (March 22, 2010). Retrieved March 28, 2010.</ref> McCain became a vocal defender of [[Arizona SB 1070]], the April 2010 tough anti-illegal immigration state law that aroused national controversy, saying that the state had been forced to take action given the federal government's inability to control the border.<ref name="wapo052210">Slevin, Peter. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052102162.html "Hard line on immigration marks GOP race in Arizona"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124149/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052102162.html |date=March 4, 2016 }}, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (May 22, 2010). Retrieved May 22, 2010.</ref><ref>Good, Chris. [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/04/mccain-defends-arizonas-immigration-law/39518/ "McCain Defends Arizona's Immigration Law"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415200733/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/04/mccain-defends-arizonas-immigration-law/39518/ |date=April 15, 2017 }}, ''[[The Atlantic]]'' (April 26, 2010). Retrieved May 22, 2010.</ref> In the August 24 primary, McCain beat Hayworth by a 56 to 32&nbsp;percent margin.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/2010/maps/#/Senate/2010/AZ "The 2010 Results Map – Senate – 2010 – AZ"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613234450/https://www.politico.com/2010/maps/#/Senate/2010/AZ |date=June 13, 2019 }}, ''[[Politico]]'' (August 25, 2010). Retrieved August 25, 2010.</ref> McCain easily defeated Democratic [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]] city councilman Rodney Glassman in the general election.<ref name=Nov2010>[http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/morning_call/2010/11/republicans-sweeping-statewide-races.html "McCain, Republicans sweep statewides"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129031923/http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/morning_call/2010/11/republicans-sweeping-statewide-races.html |date=November 29, 2010 }}, ''[[Phoenix Business Journal]]'' (November 3, 2010). Retrieved November 3, 2010.</ref>

In the lame duck session of the [[111th Congress]], McCain voted for the compromise [[Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010]],<ref>{{cite news | last=Potts |first= Tracie |url = http://www2.counton2.com/news/2010/dec/14/lawmakers-compromise-tax-deal-nobody-completely-ha-ar-1221138/ | url-status=dead| archive-date= March 11, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311143034/http://www2.counton2.com/news/2010/dec/14/lawmakers-compromise-tax-deal-nobody-completely-ha-ar-1221138/ |title= Lawmakers compromise on tax deal, nobody completely happy |publisher=[[WCBD-TV]] |date=December 14, 2010 | access-date=November 15, 2012}}</ref> but against the [[DREAM Act]] (which he had once sponsored) and the [[New START Treaty]].<ref name="db-anger">Walshe, Shushannah. [http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/12/22/john-mccains-dont-ask-dont-tell-dream-votes-and-his-lasting-anger.html "John McCain's Lasting Anger"], ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' (December 21, 2010). Retrieved November 15, 2012.</ref> Most prominently, he continued to lead the eventually losing fight against "Don't ask, don't tell" repeal.<ref name="wapo121810" /> In his opposition, he sometimes fell into anger or hostility on the Senate floor, and called its passage "a very sad day" that would compromise the battle effectiveness of the military.<ref name="db-anger" /><ref name="wapo121810">Milbank, Dana. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/18/AR2010121802738.html "John McCain at his fieriest before 'don't ask, don't tell' vote"], ''The Washington Post'' (December 18, 2010). Retrieved December 26, 2010.</ref>

=== Fifth Senate term ===

While control of the House of Representatives went over to the Republicans in the [[112th Congress]], the Senate stayed Democratic and McCain continued to be the ranking member of the [[Senate Armed Services Committee]]. As the [[Arab Spring]] took center stage, McCain urged that the embattled Egyptian president, [[Hosni Mubarak]], step down and thought the U.S. should push for democratic reforms in the region despite the associated risks of religious extremists gaining power.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=12829841 "McCain Says the Time for Mubarak to Leave Has Come"], Associated Press, [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] (February 3, 2011). Retrieved May 22, 2011.</ref> McCain was an especially vocal supporter of the [[2011 military intervention in Libya]]. In April of that year he visited the [[Anti-Gaddafi forces]] and [[National Transitional Council]] in [[Benghazi]], the highest-ranking American to do so, and said that the rebel forces were "my heroes".<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mccain-libyan-rebels-are-my-heroes/ "McCain: Libyan rebels are 'my heroes'"], [[CBS News]] (April 22, 2011). Retrieved May 11, 2011.</ref> In June, he joined with Senator Kerry in offering a resolution that would have [[War Powers Resolution#Libya intervention in 2011|authorized the military intervention]], and said: "The administration's disregard for the elected representatives of the American people on this matter has been troubling and counterproductive."<ref>Steinhauer, Jennifer. [http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/kerry-and-mccain-introduce-libya-resolution/ "Kerry and McCain Introduce Libya Resolution"], ''[[The New York Times]]'' (June 21, 2011). Retrieved February 21, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/06/22/war.powers.libya/ "Boehner: House not with McCain on Libya campaign"], [[CNN]] (June 22, 2011). Retrieved February 21, 2016.</ref> In August, McCain voted for the [[Budget Control Act of 2011]] that resolved the [[2011 United States debt-ceiling crisis|U.S. debt ceiling crisis]].<ref>[http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110801/news/110809987/ "McCain says he'll 'swallow hard' and vote for debt deal"], Associated Press, ''[[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)|Daily Herald]]'' (August 1, 2011). Retrieved August 7, 2011.</ref> In November, McCain and Senator [[Carl Levin]] were leaders in efforts to codify in the [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012]] that terrorism suspects, no matter where captured, could be detained by [[Military Commissions Act of 2006|the U.S. military and its tribunal system]]; following objections by civil libertarians, some Democrats, and the White House, McCain and Levin agreed to language making it clear that the bill would not pertain to U.S. citizens.<ref>Barett, Ted. [http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/01/politics/senate-detainee-policy/index.html "Senate passes defense bill with detainee policy compromise"], [[CNN]] (December 2, 2011). Retrieved December 3, 2011.</ref><ref>Gerstein, Josh. [http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2011/12/defense-bill-revised-in-bid-to-avoid-veto-107179.html "Defense bill revised in bid to avoid veto"], ''[[Politico]]'' (December 12, 2011). Retrieved December 26, 2011.</ref>

In the [[2012 Republican Party presidential primaries]], McCain endorsed former 2008 rival Mitt Romney and campaigned for him, but compared the contest to a [[Greek tragedy]] due to its drawn-out nature with massive [[super PAC]]-funded attack ads damaging all the contenders.<ref>Chabot, Hillary. [http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20220228mccain_close_curtain_on_gop_greek_tragedy_believes_negative_campaign_will_take_a_toll_in_november/srvc=home&position=5 "John McCain: Close curtain on GOP 'Greek tragedy'"], ''[[Boston Herald]]'' (February 28, 2012). Retrieved March 7, 2012.</ref> He labeled the Supreme Court's 2010 ''[[Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission]]'' decision as "uninformed, arrogant, naïve", and, decrying its effects and the future scandals he thought it would bring, said it would become considered the court's "worst decision{{nbsp}}... in the 21st century".<ref>Gilbert, Holly. [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/17/mccain-on-campaign-finance-the-system-is-broken/ "McCain on campaign finance: 'The system is broken'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705205108/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/17/mccain-on-campaign-finance-the-system-is-broken/ |date=July 5, 2012}}, [[CNN]] (June 17, 2012). Retrieved July 7, 2012.</ref> McCain took the lead in opposing the defense spending sequestrations brought on by the Budget Control Act of 2011 and gained attention for defending State Department aide [[Huma Abedin]] against charges brought by a few House Republicans that she had ties to the [[Muslim Brotherhood]].<ref name="nyt-stalwart" />

[[File:Flickr - DVIDSHUB - Senators visit special operations forces soldiers in eastern Afghanistan (Image 6 of 15).jpg|thumb|right|alt=A group of about ten men walking along a road|The "Three Amigos" walking in [[Kunar Province]] in eastern Afghanistan in July 2011: McCain (second from left), [[Lindsey Graham]] (second from right in front), [[Joe Lieberman]] (right in front)<ref name="amigos" />]]

McCain continued to be one of the most frequently appearing guests on the Sunday morning news talk shows.<ref name="nyt-stalwart">Steinhauer, Jennifer. [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/us/politics/once-a-rebel-mccain-now-walks-the-party-line.html "Once a Rebel, McCain Now Walks the Party Line"], ''[[The New York Times]]'' (July 27, 2012). Retrieved July 31, 2012.</ref>
He became one of the most vocal critics of the Obama administration's handling of the 2012 [[attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi]], saying it was a "debacle" that featured either "a massive cover-up or incompetence that is not acceptable" and that it was worse than the [[Watergate scandal]].<ref>Eldridge, David. [http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2012/oct/28/mccain-slams-obama-libya-nobody-died-watergate/ "McCain slams Obama on Libya: 'Nobody died in Watergate'"], ''[[The Washington Times]]'' (October 28, 2012). Retrieved November 16, 2012.</ref> As an outgrowth of this strong opposition, he and a few other senators were successful in blocking the planned nomination of Ambassador to the UN [[Susan Rice]] to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as U.S. Secretary of State; McCain's friend John Kerry was nominated instead.<ref>Ioffe, Julia. [http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/111399/john-kerry-wins-national-office-last "John Kerry's Quiet Campaign Pays Off"], ''[[The New Republic]]'' (December 22, 2012). Retrieved December 23, 2012.</ref>

Regarding the [[Syrian civil war]] that had begun in 2011, McCain repeatedly argued for the U.S. intervening militarily in the conflict on the side of the anti-government forces. He staged a visit to rebel forces inside Syria in May 2013, the first senator to do so, and called for arming the [[Free Syrian Army]] with heavy weapons and for the establishment of a [[no-fly zone]] over the country. Following reports that two of the people he posed for pictures with had been responsible for the kidnapping of eleven Lebanese Shiite pilgrims the year before, McCain disputed one of the identifications and said he had not met directly with the other.<ref>{{cite news | last=Cassata | first =Donna |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/10818441 |title=McCain: Syrian rebels need heavy weapons |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[The Guardian]] | date=May 31, 2013 | access-date= April 3, 2014}}</ref> Following the [[2013 Ghouta chemical weapons attack]], McCain argued again for strong American military action against the government of the Syrian president, [[Bashar al-Assad]], and in September 2013 cast a Foreign Relations committee vote in favor of Obama's request to Congress that it authorize a military response.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-panel-votes-to-authorize-syria-strike/ "Senate panel votes to authorize Syria strike"], [[Fox News]] (September 4, 2013). Retrieved September 11, 2013.</ref> McCain took the lead in criticizing a growing non-interventionist movement within the Republican Party, exemplified by his March 2013 comment that Senators [[Rand Paul]] and [[Ted Cruz]] and Representative [[Justin Amash]] were "wacko birds".<ref>Weiner, Rachel. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/08/mccain-calls-paul-cruz-amash-wacko-birds/ "McCain calls Paul, Cruz, Amash 'wacko birds'"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (March 8, 2013). Retrieved September 11, 2013.</ref>

[[File:Secretary Kerry and Senator McCain Chat With Members of the Saudi Royal Family.jpg|thumb|left|[[John Kerry|Kerry]] (far left) and McCain (third from left) with members of the [[Saudi Royal Family]] after greeting the new King [[Salman of Saudi Arabia]], Riyadh, January 2015]]

During 2013, McCain was a member of a bi-partisan group of senators, the "[[Gang of Eight (immigration)|Gang of Eight]]", which announced principles for another try at comprehensive immigration reform.<ref>Deruy, Emily. [https://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/gang-accelerates-immigration-reform-pace/story?id=18354593 "Gang of Eight Accelerates Immigration Reform Pace"], [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] (January 30, 2013). Retrieved February 2, 2013.</ref> The resulting [[Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013]] passed the Senate by a 68–32 margin, but faced an uncertain future in the House.<ref>[http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/07/19/McCain-Immigration-reform-backers-not-winning/UPI-81771374217200/ "McCain: Immigration-reform backers 'not winning'"], [[United Press International]] (July 19, 2013). Retrieved July 31, 2013.</ref> In July 2013, McCain was at the forefront of an agreement among senators to drop filibusters against Obama administration executive nominees without Democrats resorting to the "[[nuclear option]]" that would disallow such filibusters altogether.<ref>Condon, Stephanie. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-reaches-deal-to-avert-nuclear-option/ "Senate reaches deal to avert 'nuclear option'"], [[CBS News]] (July 16, 2013). Retrieved July 31, 2013.</ref><ref name="wapo-mav" /> However, the option would be imposed later in the year anyway, to the senator's displeasure.<ref name="nytm-ml2013" /> These developments and some other negotiations showed that McCain had become the leader of a power center in the Senate for cutting deals in an otherwise bitterly partisan environment.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/behind-the-curtain-new-power-triangle-94648.html |title=The new power triangle |work=[[Politico]] |date=July 23, 2013 | access-date = July 31, 2013 | first1= Mike | last1= Allen | first2= Jim | last2= Vandehei}}</ref><ref>Pace, Julie. [http://www.startribune.com/obama-and-mccain-washington-s-newest-odd-couple/217226071/ "Once heated White House rivals, Obama and McCain becoming bipartisan partners in second term"], Associated Press, ''[[Star Tribune]]'' (July 27, 2013). Retrieved July 31, 2013.</ref><ref name="alh-mav" /> They also led some observers to conclude that the "maverick" McCain had returned.<ref name="wapo-mav">Kane, Paul. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/john-mccain-helps-avert-senate-showdown/2013/07/16/61fb21b4-ee4f-11e2-bed3-b9b6fe264871_story.html "John McCain helps avert Senate showdown"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (July 16, 2013). Retrieved August 1, 2013.</ref><ref name="alh-mav">[[Al Hunt|Hunt, Albert R.]] [http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/29/3529240/mccain-a-maverick-again.html "McCain a maverick again"], ''[[Miami Herald]]'' (July 29, 2013). Retrieved August 1, 2013.</ref>

McCain was publicly skeptical about the Republican strategy that precipitated the [[U.S. federal government shutdown of 2013]] and [[U.S. debt-ceiling crisis of 2013]] to defund or delay the Affordable Care Act; in October 2013 he voted in favor of the [[Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014]], which resolved them and said, "Republicans have to understand we have lost this battle, as I predicted weeks ago, that we would not be able to win because we were demanding something that was not achievable."<ref>Weisman, Jonathan. [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/us/politics/congress-budget-debate.html "Senators Restart Talks as Default Looms"], ''[[The New York Times]]'' (October 15, 2013). Retrieved October 19, 2013.</ref> He was one of nine Republican senators who voted for the [[Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013]] at the end of the year.<ref>Barrett, Ted and Cohen, Tom. [http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/18/politics/senate-budget-deal/ "Senate approves budget, sends to Obama"], [[CNN]] (December 18, 2013). Retrieved December 20, 2013.</ref> By early 2014, McCain's apostasies were enough that the [[Arizona Republican Party]] formally censured him for having what they saw as a liberal record that had been "disastrous and harmful".<ref>Sanchez, Yvonne Wingett. [https://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/20140125arizona-republican-party-mccain-censure-gop.html "Arizona GOP censures McCain for 'disastrous' record"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405033843/http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/20140125arizona-republican-party-mccain-censure-gop.html |date=April 5, 2016 }}, ''[[The Arizona Republic]]'' (January 25, 2014). Retrieved January 26, 2014.</ref> McCain remained stridently opposed to many aspects of Obama's foreign policy, however, and in June 2014, following major gains by the [[Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant]] in the [[Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014)|2014 Northern Iraq offensive]], decried what he saw as a U.S. failure to protect its past gains in Iraq and called on the president's entire national security team to resign. McCain said, "Could all this have been avoided?{{nbsp}}... The answer is absolutely yes. If I sound angry it's because I am angry."<ref>Baron, Kevin. [http://www.nationaljournal.com/defense/mccain-calls-for-obama-s-national-security-team-to-resign-over-iraq-20140612 "McCain Calls for Obama's National Security Team to Resign Over Iraq"], ''[[National Journal]]'' (June 12, 2014). Retrieved June 14, 2014.</ref>

[[File:Маккейн на Євромайдані.jpg|thumb|right|McCain addresses anti-government protesters in [[Kyiv]], Ukraine, pledging his support for their cause, December 2013]]

McCain was a supporter of the [[Euromaidan]] protests against Ukrainian president [[Viktor Yanukovych]] and his government, and appeared in [[Maidan Nezalezhnosti|Independence Square]] in [[Kyiv]] in December 2013.<ref>Walsh, Nick Paton and Capelouto, Susanna. [http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/14/world/europe/ukraine-protests/ "Ukrainian protesters get visit from Sen. John McCain"], [[CNN]] (December 15, 2013). Retrieved December 17, 2014.</ref> Following the overthrow of Yanukovych and subsequent [[2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine]], McCain became a vocal supporter of providing arms to Ukrainian military forces, saying the [[International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War|sanctions imposed against Russia]] were not enough.<ref>Wong, Kristina. [https://thehill.com/policy/defense/224619-mccain-graham-call-for-us-to-arm-ukrainians/ "McCain, Graham call for US to arm Ukrainians"], ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' (November 18, 2014). Retrieved December 17, 2014.</ref> In 2014, McCain led the opposition to the appointments of [[Colleen Bell]], [[Noah Mamet]], and [[George James Tsunis|George Tsunis]] to the ambassadorships in Hungary, Argentina, and Norway, respectively, arguing they were unqualified.<ref>John, Arit. [https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2014-12-02/john-mccain-fights-loses-good-fight-against-bundlerambassadors "John McCain Fights, Loses Good Fight Against Bundler-Ambassadors"], [[Bloomberg News]] (December 2, 2014). Retrieved December 4, 2014.</ref> Unlike many Republicans, McCain supported the release and contents of the [[Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture]] in December 2014, saying "The truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow. It sometimes causes us difficulties at home and abroad. It is sometimes used by our enemies in attempts to hurt us. But the American people are entitled to it, nonetheless."<ref>Everett, Burgess. [http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/cia-torture-report-republicans-react-113432.html "Torture report divides Republicans"], ''[[Politico]]'' (December 9, 2014). Retrieved December 10, 2014.</ref> He added that the CIA's practices following the September 11 attacks had "stained our national honor" while doing "much harm and little practical good" and that "Our enemies act without conscience. We must not."<ref>Jaffe, Alexandra. [http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/09/politics/mccain-lauds-release-terror-report/ "McCain makes passionate defense for torture report's release"], [[CNN]] (December 10, 2014). Retrieved December 20, 2014.</ref> He opposed the Obama administration's December 2014 decision to normalize [[Cuba–United States relations|relations with Cuba]].<ref>Bolton, Alexander. [https://thehill.com/policy/international/227467-gop-senators-slam-obamas-cuba-moves/ "GOP senators slam Obama's Cuba moves"], ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' (December 17, 2014). Retrieved December 20, 2014.</ref>

The [[114th United States Congress]] assembled in January 2015 with Republicans in control of the Senate, and McCain achieved one of his longtime goals when he became chairman of the Armed Services Committee.<ref name="nyt-chair" /> In this position, he led the writing of proposed Senate legislation that sought to modify parts of the [[Goldwater–Nichols Act of 1986]] to return responsibility for major weapons systems acquisition back to the individual armed services and their secretaries and away from the [[Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics]].<ref>[http://www.defensenews.com/story/breaking-news/2015/05/22/mccain-pentagon-weapons-reforms-budget-ndaa/27773133/ "McCain Would Let Services Out of 'Penalty Box'"], ''[[Defense News]]'' (May 22, 2015). Retrieved May 23, 2015.</ref> As chair, McCain tried to maintain a bipartisan approach and forged a good relationship with ranking member [[Jack Reed (Rhode Island politician)|Jack Reed]].<ref name="nyt-chair">Steinhauer, Jennifer. [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/09/us/politics/mccain-uses-committee-post-to-press-for-defense-agenda.html "With Chairmanship, McCain Seizes Chance to Reshape Pentagon Agenda"], ''[[The New York Times]]'' (June 9, 2015). Retrieved June 10, 2015.</ref> In April 2015, McCain announced that he would run for a sixth term in [[2016 United States Senate election in Arizona|Arizona's 2016 Senate election]].<ref>Cheney, Kyle. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/john-mccain-arizona-senate-2016-116722.html "John McCain announces reelection bid"], ''[[Politico]]'' (April 7, 2015). Retrieved April 9, 2015.</ref> During 2015, McCain strongly opposed the Obama administration's proposed comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear program (later finalized as the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]] (JCPOA)), saying that Secretary of State Kerry was "delusional" and "giv[ing] away the store" in negotiations with Iran.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Crowley |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/john-kerry-mccain-friends-foes-vietnam-senate-117877.html |title=John Kerry and John McCain: Once friends, now foes |work=[[Politico]] |date=May 13, 2015 |access-date=May 13, 2015}}</ref> McCain supported the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen|Saudi Arabian-led military intervention in Yemen]] against the [[Houthis]] and forces loyal to former president [[Ali Abdullah Saleh]].<ref>Perry, Mark. [http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/4/17/us-generals-think-saudi-strikes-in-yemen-a-bad-idea.html "US generals: Saudi intervention in Yemen 'a bad idea'"], [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]] (April 17, 2015). Retrieved June 20, 2015</ref>

[[File:總統出席接見美國聯邦參議院軍事委員會馬侃（John McCain）主席訪問團 (26882360893).jpg|thumb|Taiwanese president [[Tsai Ing-wen]] meets with McCain, the leader of the U.S. Senate delegation, June 2016]]

McCain accused President Obama of being "directly responsible" for the [[Orlando nightclub shooting]] "because when he pulled everybody out of Iraq, al-Qaeda went to Syria, became ISIS, and ISIS is what it is today thanks to Barack Obama's failures."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/06/16/john-mccain-obama-is-directly-responsible-for-orlando-attack/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|title=John McCain: Obama is 'directly responsible' for Orlando attack |date=June 16, 2016|access-date=June 18, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/17/john-mccain-obama-orlando-pretzel-logic|work=[[The Guardian]]|title=John McCain blamed Obama for the Orlando shooting. That's some pretzel logic |date=June 17, 2016|access-date=June 18, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:John McCain & Mitt Romney (23342266429).jpg|right|thumb|McCain campaigning with former Governor [[Mitt Romney|Romney]] in [[Mesa, Arizona]], during his 2016 re-election campaign]]

During the [[2016 Republican primaries]], McCain said he would support the Republican nominee even if it was [[Donald Trump]], in spite of his personal disagreements with Trump.

However, following [[Mitt Romney's 2016 anti-Trump speech]], McCain endorsed the sentiments expressed in that speech, saying he had serious concerns about Trump's "uninformed and indeed dangerous statements on national security issues".<ref name="ml2016">Dumcius, Gintautas. [http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/03/sen_john_mccain_weighs_in_on_d.html "Sen. John McCain backs up Mitt Romney, says Donald Trump's comments 'uninformed and indeed dangerous'"], ''[[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)|The Republican]]'' (March 3, 2016). Retrieved March 3, 2016.</ref> Relations between the two had been fraught since early in [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|Trump's 2016 presidential campaign]], when McCain referred to a room full of Trump supporters as "crazies", and the real estate mogul then said of McCain: "He insulted me, and he insulted everyone in that room{{nbsp}}... He is a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured{{nbsp}}... perhaps he was a war hero, but right now he's said a lot of very bad things about a lot of people."<ref name="ml2016" /><ref>{{cite news|author=Hains, Tim|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2015/07/19/trump_on_mccain_he_is_a_war_hero_because_he_was_captured_i_like_people_who_werent_captured.html|date=July 19, 2015|title=Trump On McCain: "He Is A War Hero Because He Was Captured{{nbsp}}... I Like People Who Weren't Captured"|work=[[Real Clear Politics]]}}</ref> This was widely condemned by much of the Republican Party, with Senator [[Marco Rubio]] referring to Trump's comments as "offensive rantings", commentator [[Rick Santorum]] tweeting that "@SenJohnMcCain is an American hero, period", and Governor [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]] using the comments as the basis for his denunciation of Trump in a campaign event in [[Sioux City, Iowa|Sioux City]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Schreckinger|first=Ben|title=Trump attacks McCain: 'I like people who weren't captured'|url=https://politi.co/2KOTac4|access-date=July 1, 2021|website=Politico|date=July 18, 2015 |language=en}}</ref> Following Trump becoming the presumptive nominee of the party on May 3, McCain said that Republican voters had spoken and he would support Trump.<ref>Raju, Manu. [http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/05/politics/john-mccain-jeff-flake-donald-trump/ "Flake, McCain split over backing Trump"], [[CNN]] (May 5, 2016). Retrieved May 7, 2016.</ref>

McCain himself faced a primary challenge from [[Kelli Ward]], a fervent Trump supporter, and then was expected to face a potentially strong challenge from Democratic Congresswoman [[Ann Kirkpatrick]] in the general election.<ref name="pol100816" /> The senator privately expressed worry over the effect that Trump's unpopularity among Hispanic voters might have on his own chances but also was concerned with more conservative pro-Trump voters; he thus kept his endorsement of Trump in place but tried to speak of him as little as possible given their disagreements.<ref>Everett, Burgess and Kim, Seung Min. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/trump-latinos-mccain-222810 "McCain on tape: Trump damages my reelection hopes"], ''[[Politico]]'' (May 5, 2016). Retrieved May 7, 2016.</ref><ref>Barabak, Mark Z. [https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-mccain-trump-arizona-senate-20160823-snap-story.html "As John McCain fights for reelection, the Trump problem cuts two ways – both against him"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' (August 24, 2016). Retrieved August 24, 2016.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Matt |last=Fuller |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/john-mccain-unendorses-trump_us_57f95fc1e4b0e655eab4f273 |title=John McCain Unendorses Donald Trump |newspaper=[[HuffPost]] |date=October 8, 2016}}</ref> However McCain defeated Ward in the primary by a double-digit percentage point margin and gained a similar lead over Kirkpatrick in general election polls, and when the [[Donald Trump Access Hollywood controversy|Donald Trump ''Access Hollywood'' controversy]] broke, he felt secure enough to on October{{nbsp}}8 withdraw his endorsement of Trump.<ref name="pol100816">Everett, Burgess. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/mccain-trump-229380 "How McCain finally decided he couldn't stomach Trump anymore"], ''[[Politico]]'' (October 8, 2016). Retrieved October 8, 2016.</ref> McCain stated that Trump's "demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults" made it "impossible to continue to offer even conditional support" and added that he would not vote for Hillary Clinton, but would instead "[[write in]] the name of some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be president."<ref>Siddiqui, Sabrina; Jacobs, Ben; Helmore, Edward. [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/08/john-mccain-donald-trump-sex-boast-tape "John McCain withdraws support for Donald Trump over groping boasts"], ''[[The Guardian]]'' (October 8, 2016). Retrieved October 8, 2016.</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Aaron |last=Blake |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/10/07/the-gops-brutal-responses-to-the-new-trump-video-broken-down/ |title=Three dozen Republicans have now called for Donald Trump to drop out |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 9, 2016}}</ref> McCain defeated Kirkpatrick, securing a sixth term as United States Senator from Arizona.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/09/us/politics/arizona-senate-john-mccain.html|title=John McCain Wins Arizona Senate Race|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Fernanda |last=Santos|date=November 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115042350/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/09/us/politics/arizona-senate-john-mccain.html|archive-date=November 15, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2016, McCain obtained a copy of a [[Steele dossier|dossier regarding the Trump presidential campaign's links to Russia]] compiled by [[Christopher Steele]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=How the Trump dossier came to light: secret sources, a retired spy and John McCain |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/11/trump-russia-report-opposition-research-john-mccain |first1=Julian |last1=Borger |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=August 26, 2018|date=January 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211165530/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/11/trump-russia-report-opposition-research-john-mccain |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2016, McCain passed on the dossier to FBI Director [[James Comey]]. McCain later wrote that he felt the dossier's "allegations were disturbing" but unverifiable by himself, so he let the FBI investigate.<ref>{{Cite news | last=Resnick | first=Gideon | title=McCain Defends Giving Trump Dossier to Comey: Duty Demanded I Do It | newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]] | date=May 9, 2018 | url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/mccain-confirms-he-gave-trump-dossier-to-comey-duty-demanded-i-do-it | access-date=May 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510013213/https://www.thedailybeast.com/mccain-confirms-he-gave-trump-dossier-to-comey-duty-demanded-i-do-it |archive-date=May 10, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Sixth and final Senate term ===
[[File:National March on the NRA 8040026.jpg|thumb|The ''National March on the NRA'' in August 2018. The [[National Rifle Association of America]] (NRA) spent $7.74&nbsp;million to support John McCain.<ref>{{cite news |title=The 10 Politicians Who Have Benefited the Most From NRA Funding |url=https://fortune.com/2018/02/15/nra-contributions-politicians-senators/ |work=[[Forbes]]|date=February 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216003125/https://fortune.com/2018/02/15/nra-contributions-politicians-senators/ |archive-date=February 16, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>]]

McCain chaired the January 5, 2017, hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee where Republican and Democratic senators and intelligence officers, including [[James R. Clapper Jr.]], the [[Director of National Intelligence]], [[Michael S. Rogers]], the head of the [[National Security Agency]] and [[United States Cyber Command]] presented a "united front" that "forcefully reaffirmed the conclusion that the Russian government used hacking and leaks to try to influence the presidential election."<ref name="NYT_Jan6_2017">{{cite news |title=Countering Trump, Bipartisan Voices Strongly Affirm Findings on Russian Hacking |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/us/politics/taking-aim-at-trump-leaders-strongly-affirm-findings-on-russian-hacking.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105202350/http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/us/politics/taking-aim-at-trump-leaders-strongly-affirm-findings-on-russian-hacking.html |archive-date=January 5, 2017 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=[[The New York Times]] |first1=Matt |last1=Flegenheimer |first2=Scott |last2=Shane |date=January 5, 2017 |access-date=January 6, 2017}}</ref>

McCain visited the American missile destroyer [[USS John S. McCain (DDG-56)|USS John S McCain]], which docked in Vietnam on 2 June 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John McCain visits 'Big Bad John' US destroyer in Vietnam - VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/john-mccain-visits-big-bad-john-us-destroyer-in-vietnam-3594312.html |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=VnExpress International |language=en |author1=Vnexpress }}</ref>

In June 2017, McCain voted to support President Trump's controversial [[2017 United States–Saudi Arabia arms deal|arms deal with Saudi Arabia]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carney|first1=Jordain|title=Senate rejects effort to block Saudi arms sale|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/337614-senate-rejects-effort-to-block-saudi-arms-sale/|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=June 13, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=Helene|title=Senate Narrowly Backs Trump Weapons Sale to Saudi Arabia|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/13/world/middleeast/trump-weapons-saudi-arabia.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613234459/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/13/world/middleeast/trump-weapons-saudi-arabia.html |archive-date=June 13, 2017 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 13, 2017}}</ref>

Repeal and replacement of Obamacare was a centerpiece of McCain's 2016 re-election campaign,<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.academia.edu/35311502|author= Gautreaux, R|title= Framing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:A Content Analysis of Democratic and Republican Twitter Feeds|year= 2016|access-date= March 26, 2020|archive-date= November 20, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195817/https://www.academia.edu/35311502/Framing_the_Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act_A_Content_Analysis_of_Democratic_and_Republican_Twitter_Feeds|url-status= live}}</ref> and in July 2017, he said, "Have no doubt: Congress must replace Obamacare, which has hit Arizonans with some of the highest premium increases in the nation and left 14 of Arizona's 15 counties with only one provider option on the exchanges this year."<ref>Nowicki, Dan. [https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2017/07/14/john-mccain-senate-health-bill/477485001/ "McCain is not happy with the new Senate health bill. Here's what he wants"], ''[[The Arizona Republic]]'' (July 14, 2017).</ref>

In September 2017, as the [[Rohingya crisis in Myanmar]] became ethnic cleansing of the [[Persecution of Muslims in Myanmar|Rohingya Muslim minority]], McCain announced moves to scrap planned future military cooperation with Myanmar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/john-mccain-to-punish-myanmar-in-defense-bill/article/2634199|first=Susan|last=Ferrechio|website=Washington Examiner|title=John McCain to punish Myanmar in defense bill|date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>

In October 2017, McCain praised President Trump's decision to decertify Iran's compliance with the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) while not yet withdrawing the U.S. from the agreement, saying that the Obama-era policy failed "to meet the multifaceted threat Iran poses. The goals President Trump presented in his speech today are a welcomed long overdue change."<ref name="Delk2017">{{cite news |last1=Delk |first1=Josh |title=McCain: Iran has 'literally been getting away with murder' |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/355396-mccain-iran-was-literally-been-getting-away-with-murder/ |access-date=September 1, 2018 |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=October 13, 2017}}</ref>

==== Brain tumor diagnosis and surgery ====
[[File:John McCain returns to Senate and delivers remarks on July 25, 2017.webm|thumb|McCain returns to the Senate for the first time following his cancer diagnosis and delivers remarks on July&nbsp;25, 2017, after casting a crucial vote on the [[American Health Care Act]].]]

On July 14, 2017, McCain underwent a minimally invasive [[craniotomy]] at [[Mayo Clinic Arizona|Mayo Clinic Hospital]] in Phoenix, Arizona, to remove a blood clot above his left eye. His absence prompted [[Senate Majority Leader]] [[Mitch McConnell]] to delay a vote on the [[American Health Care Act of 2017|Better Care Reconciliation Act]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/15/politics/john-mccain-blood-clot/index.html|title=McConnell delays health care vote while McCain recovers from surgery|publisher=[[CNN]]|last1=Mattingly|first1=Phil|last2=Raju|first2=Manu|last3=Almasy|first3=Steve|date=July 17, 2017|access-date=July 19, 2017}}</ref> Five days later, Mayo Clinic doctors announced the presence of a [[glioblastoma]], which is a very aggressive cancerous [[brain tumor]].<ref name="tumor">{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/19/health/gupta-mccain-glioblastoma/index.html |title=Sen. John McCain has brain cancer, aggressive tumor surgically removed |last=Scutti |first=Susan |publisher=[[CNN]]|date=July 19, 2017}}</ref> Even with treatment, average survival time is approximately 14 months.<ref name="tumor" /> McCain was a survivor of previous cancers, including melanoma.<ref name="Altman" /><ref name="abc1606">{{cite news|title=McCain Recovering After Cancer Surgery|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=123056&page=1|access-date=July 20, 2017|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=August 21, 2000}}</ref>

President Donald Trump publicly wished Senator McCain well,<ref>Caplan, David. [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sen-john-mccain-brain-tumor/story?id=48736008 "Sen. John McCain diagnosed with brain tumor after blood clot removed"], ''ABC News'' (July 19, 2017).</ref> as did many others, including former president Obama.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/887836712822558720|title=John McCain is an American hero & one of the bravest fighters I've ever known. Cancer doesn't know what it's up against. Give it hell, John|last=Obama|first=Barack|date=July 19, 2017|via=Twitter|access-date=July 23, 2017}}{{better source needed|date=January 2021}}</ref> On July 19, McCain's senatorial office issued a statement that he "appreciates the outpouring of support he has received over the last few days. He is in good spirits as he continues to recover at home ... and is confident that any future treatment will be effective."<ref>{{cite news|last=Sullivan |first=Sean |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/trumps-tough-talk-on-health-care-aims-to-revive-flagging-senate-effort/2017/07/24/a8acdb3e-7091-11e7-9eac-d56bd5568db8_story.html |title=McCain's return to Senate injects momentum into GOP health-care battle |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=July 24, 2017 |access-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref>

==== Return to the Senate ====
[[File:John McCain Votes No on Obamacare Repeal.jpg|left|thumb|McCain votes no on repealing the Affordable Care Act by giving a thumbs down.]]

McCain returned to the Senate on July 25, less than two weeks after brain surgery. He cast a deciding vote allowing the Senate to begin consideration of bills to replace the Affordable Care Act. He delivered a speech criticizing the [[party-line vote|party-line voting]] process and urged a "return to regular order" using the usual committee hearings and deliberations.<ref>{{cite news|author=Werner, Erica|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/mccain-fighting-cancer-turns-gop-kills-health-bill-48905650|title=McCain, fighting cancer, turns on GOP and kills health bill|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=July 28, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729005618/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/mccain-fighting-cancer-turns-gop-kills-health-bill-48905650|archive-date=July 29, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=Cowan, Richard|author2=Oliphant, James| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare-mccain-idUSKBN1AA2MB |title=In hero's return, McCain blasts Congress, tells senators to stand up to Trump|work=[[Reuters]]|date=July 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Alonso-Zaldivar, Ricardo|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/mccains-return-heavy-with-drama-for-obamacare-repeal/2017/07/25/70cb9de4-710f-11e7-8c17-533c52b2f014_story.html|title=Cheers for McCain, then a speech like impassioned prophet|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=July 25, 2017|quote=Obama and the Democrats shouldn't have pushed the Affordable Care Act through on party-line votes when they controlled Washington back in 2010, McCain said, 'and we shouldn't do the same with ours.{{nbsp}}...'|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725101314/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/mccains-return-heavy-with-drama-for-obamacare-repeal/2017/07/25/70cb9de4-710f-11e7-8c17-533c52b2f014_story.html|archive-date=July 25, 2017}} The same Associated Press article was published at: {{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/07/26/us/politics/ap-us-mccain.html|title=McCain Delivers a Key Health Care Vote, Scolding Message|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 26, 2017|access-date=July 28, 2017|archive-date=July 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728212228/https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/07/26/us/politics/ap-us-mccain.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> On July 28, he cast the decisive vote against the Republicans' final proposal that month, the so-called "skinny repeal" option, which failed 49–51.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/28/politics/john-mccain-maverick-health-care/index.html|title=John McCain's maverick moment|last=Fox|first=Lauren|date=July 28, 2017|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=July 28, 2017}}</ref> McCain supported the passage  of the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]].

McCain did not vote in the Senate after December 2017, remaining in Arizona to undergo cancer treatment. On April 15, 2018, he underwent surgery for an infection relating to [[diverticulitis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/383446-mccain-recovering-after-surgery-for-infection/|title=McCain recovering after surgery for infection|author=Samuels, Brett|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=April 16, 2018|access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref>

=== Committee assignments ===
[[File:U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Senators Joni Ernst, Daniel Sullivan, John McCain, Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham, and Cory Gardner attending the 2016 International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia Security Summit in Singapore.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|U.S. Secretary of Defense [[Ash Carter]] and Senators [[Joni Ernst]], [[Daniel Sullivan (U.S. senator)|Daniel Sullivan]], John McCain, [[Tom Cotton]], [[Lindsey Graham]], and [[Cory Gardner]] attending the 2016 [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]] Asia Security Summit in Singapore]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]''' (Chair)
** as chair of the full committee may serve as an ex-officio member of any subcommittee
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]]'''
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations|Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]]
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight|Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs|Committee on Indian Affairs]]'''
* '''[[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Committee on Intelligence]]''' (ex-officio)

=== Caucus memberships ===
* [[United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus|International Conservation Caucus]]
* Senate Diabetes Caucus
* Senate National Security Caucus (Co-chair)
* Sportsmen's Caucus
* Senate Wilderness and Public Lands Caucus
* [[Senate Ukraine Caucus]]<ref>[http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/2/portman-and-durbin-launch-senate-ukraine-caucus "Portman and Durbin Launch Senate Ukraine Caucus"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211073945/http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/2/portman-and-durbin-launch-senate-ukraine-caucus |date=February 11, 2015 }}, web site of "Rob Portman United States Senator for Ohio" (February 9, 2015). Retrieved February 11, 2015.</ref>
* [[Republican Main Street Partnership]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://republicanmainstreet.org/members/|publisher=Republican Main Street Partnership|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826123025/https://republicanmainstreet.org/members/|archive-date=August 26, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>