President Trump noticeably left out Sen. John McCain’s name during a signing ceremony for a bill that bears the Arizona Senator’s name.

Congress named the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act to honor the ailing war veteran, but when Trump traveled to Fort Drum in upstate New York to sign the bill, he wasn’t feeling as nostalgic.

“The National Defense Authorization Act is the most significant investment in our military,” Trump said. The president said the act will greatly strengthen the size and scope of the U.S. military.

The most likely reason that Trump snubbed McCain became all too obvious when later, during a fundraiser for Rep. Claudia Tenney (R. NY), he blasted the senator for his disappointing ‘no’ vote to repeal Obamacare. While addressing the crowd, Trump slammed McCain – but once again, without using his name.

“Obamacare, we got rid of the individual mandate, which is the most unpopular aspect,” Trump said. “I would’ve gotten rid of everything, but as you know, one of our wonderful senators said ‘thumbs down’ at 2:00 in the morning.”

Never one to miss an opportunity to virtue signal off the back of something President Trump said, CNN’s Jake Tapper was quick to put on his “patriot hat” to congratulate McCain since the president did not.

“That was President Trump just a few minutes ago thanking a laundry list of people before officially signing the ‘John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act’. One person who wasn’t on that list of people that he thanked? Outspoken Trump critic and the namesake of the bill, Senator John McCain,” Tapper said.

“You know, the decorated war hero, who was a prisoner of war, who continues to serve as a United States senator, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee.”

Trump’s critics, including Tapper, were quick to point out that in a statement released by McCain, “President Trump” was mentioned, by name, as the official signing the bill. Tapper then went in for the kill.

“Since President Trump would not do it, let us here on The Lead congratulate Senator John McCain and his family and thank him for his service to the country,” he said.

Of course, no good virtue signal would be complete without taking it to Twitter.

@cindymccain @MeghanMcCain I am so sorry you continue to have to suffer these indignities

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 13, 2018

Judging from the responses, that tweet was a little too much for most.

But yet you hate Hillary and call him @POTUS
So sad:(

— IFONLYIFTHEN (@ifonlyifthen) August 13, 2018

She’s a glutton for punishment. She continues to support a president and a party that treats her and her family like trash. I no longer empathize with her. Republicans gonna republican.

— Trea (@trealove8) August 13, 2018

You aren’t the story. Secondly, McCain took many shots at POTUS, he was one of the original “Never Trumpers” – he even went overseas and gave speeches against POTUS. I wouldn’t have mentioned him either – elections have consequences- remember?

— BBS (@Babybluestrat) August 14, 2018

You put out a narrative that suits your handlers and then apologize for it?
You are getting soft Jake.

Why didn’t you just report that he signed the bill named after him?

— MAGAPILL ?? (@MAGAPILL) August 13, 2018

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Renee Hayes

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