Sen. John McCain ‘doing well,’ but will return to Arizona, miss tax bill vote

PHOENIX — U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is “doing well,” despite his recent hospitalization due to the side effects of his cancer treatment, but will miss this week’s tax bill vote.

“I’m happy to say that he’s doing well,” Ben Domenech, Meghan McCain’s husband, said on CBS News’ Face The Nation.

“He’s doing well and is in good spirits and he’s looking forward to heading back home to Arizona for the holidays. He remains one of the toughest men on the face of the earth, as you know.”

McCain was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital last week.

The hospitalization caused the Arizona senator to miss all Senate votes that week and led Senate leaders to reschedule a vote on tax reform legislation.

An official statement released by McCain’s office said the Arizona senator was hospitalized for a viral infection.

“McCain has responded well to treatment he received at Walter Reed Medical Center for viral infection and continues to improve. An evaluation of his underlying cancer shows he is responding positively to ongoing treatment,” the statement read.

The statement also said that McCain has returned to Arizona and will seek physical therapy and rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic.

He is expected to return to Washington, D.C. in January, effectively missing a crucial vote on a tax reform bill this week.

However, President Donald Trump told reporters earlier Sunday that McCain would come back if Republicans needed his vote to pass the bill. It was not clear whether that was still the case.

Trump says he’s spoken with John McCain’s wife. “I wished John well. They’ve headed back. I understand he’ll come if we ever needed his vote, which hopefully we won’t, but the word is that John will come back if we needed his vote.”

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) December 17, 2017

In a tweet, Meghan McCain said her father was “doing well and we are all looking forward to spending Christmas together in Arizona.”

Thank you to everyone for their kind words. My father is doing well and we are all looking forward to spending Christmas together in Arizona. If you’re feeling charitable this Christmas @HeadfortheCure or @NBTStweets to help find a cure for brain cancer is what I recommend. ❤️

— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) December 17, 2017

According to CNN, a source described McCain as “looking increasingly frail” and said he has not “spoken up in recent meetings the way he had before.”

The same day he was in the hospital, Meghan McCain got a pep talk from former Vice President Joe Biden on the morning show, “The View.”

The younger McCain broke down in tears as Biden comforted her about her father’s condition and the same aggressive form of the disease that claimed the life of his son, Beau Biden.

“If anybody can make it, your dad (can),” the former vice president said.

Trump called Cindy McCain, the senator’s wife, last week to send his best wishes and check on her and her husband, the White House said.

On Friday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders also tweeted her support to members of McCain’s family.

Praying for @SenJohnMcCain, @MeghanMcCain and the rest of his family. Keep up the fight. America is with you.

— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) December 16, 2017

Several of McCain’s fellow senators, including his closest friend on Capitol Hill, Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R-S.C.), said last week that he was optimistic McCain would be back to work soon.

“John, take a little time, rest up. It’s OK to take a day or two off,” Graham said.

But McCain’s condition has appeared to worsen lately. He suffered a minor tear in his right Achilles tendon, forcing him to wear a walking brace. He eventually began using a wheelchair with members of his staff assisting him.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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