Transcript: Jack McCain on

The next is the transcript of an interview with Navy veteran Jack McCain that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Could 25, 2025.

MARGARET BRENNAN  And we’re again with one other McCain. Jack McCain is the son of Cindy and the late Senator John McCain. He is a Navy veteran who served within the Afghanistan Battle, and he joins us now from Kyoto, Japan. Good to have you ever right here.

JACK MCCAIN: Thanks. I am extremely glad to be right here. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, we all know whenever you have been in Afghanistan, you flew alongside and helped to coach a few of the Afghan Black Hawk pilots. Why is it vital to you now to talk out on their behalf? Are any of your private contacts there in danger?

MCCAIN: Sure, mainly everybody that we have been unable to get out is in danger. These pilots and crew members fought the Taliban toe to toe, and due to that, the Taliban is attempting to hunt them out for reprisal, one thing that they distinctly promised that they might not do. So not solely they- are they in peril, however we owe them a debt. I imagine that I am vertical and nonetheless on this earth due to the efforts of my Afghan pilots and crews. And never solely do I owe them personally, however the nation owes them a debt of honor, one which we have now but to repay. Everybody, interpreters, floor troop pilots that labored and fought alongside america at our behest, ought to be capable to be evacuated right here to america and must be taken care of.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you have been lively obligation on the time of the very chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. I do know you helped to get Afghans out. Throughout that time frame, there have been a whole lot of Afghans airlifted out. Who was left behind and what guarantees have been made?

MCCAIN: Yeah, the issue is everybody was left behind, whether or not it was relations, together with relations of U.S. servicemen, whether or not it was pilots, crews, the folks that I labored with, particular forces. We did all the pieces we might to get as many as we might out. However by way of the chaos of the withdrawal and albeit, the dearth of planning on the a part of america authorities, it was as much as people and typically smaller navy models to assist either- in my case, I needed to triage who we have been going to take out. I needed to prioritize operational pilots over pilots in coaching, versus crew members within the again, just because everybody was attempting to do all the pieces they might. So we have now tens of hundreds that fought alongside us left behind, every one in all them in peril in their very own means, to not point out relations that can be utilized as instruments of leverage towards these which are even right here in america now.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And to that time: below the Taliban proper now, ladies aren’t even allowed to talk in public. They can not go to highschool over the sixth- previous the sixth grade. They don’t seem to be allowed to work. So the daughters, the wives, the feminine relations of a whole lot of these individuals who labored with People are going through some fairly powerful situations. Nevertheless, this administration only recently stated by way of Homeland Safety that it’s protected for Afghans to return. So these right here may very well be despatched again, some Afghans who had arrived right here and been given short-term safety. Does what the U.S. authorities stated match in any means what you might be listening to is going on on the bottom?

MCCAIN: I might disagree with your complete notion that it’s protected for anybody, particularly if they have been in america, to return to rule below the Taliban. Whether or not they’re, male, feminine, younger, outdated, that regime has confirmed itself to be- to not solely have gone again on each promise they made to us, however to be- to haven’t any downside utilizing human lives as pawns to imprison, torture, rape, kill, even promote into slavery. So no, I disagree that Afghanistan is protected for anyone, a lot much less those who fought on behalf of america. My pilots have been doing gun runs on Taliban positions as they have been shifting ahead on the bottom in Kandahar. I might say that they’ve a score- the Taliban have a rating they’d wish to settle. So completely, not unequivocally, it’s not protected to return.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So there are a variety of veterans of the struggle in Afghanistan who serve at the moment as lawmakers in america Congress. And it’s Congress that units the variety of visas for the- these Particular Immigrant Visas, SIVs. We checked, there are greater than 144,000 candidates within the pipeline, however there are solely 11,000 visas left. In order that’s not even counting relations right here. Have you ever gotten any indication from the lawmakers you understand that they’re going to increase that cap?

MCCAIN: No, I’ve not, and it’s an utter travesty that that’s the case. Individuals on either side of the aisle had- have served in Afghanistan or fought alongside Afghans, very similar to me, and the political theater that has taken place of merely ignoring the issue can solely be summarized by the phrase despicable. This is a matter of humanity. This is a matter of nationwide honor, and this can be a debt that we owe. So I might urge lawmakers on either side of the aisle to resolve this downside, as a result of it’s not going to go away. It’s your job to legislate, so please accomplish that.

MARGARET BRENNAN:  In order that’s within the hand of lawmakers. That was an issue even over the last administration. Now although, we have now this additional complication the place the Trump administration has put in orders to limit refugee admissions and stated the U.S. ought to prioritize individuals who can, quote, “absolutely and appropriately assimilate and who don’t pose a menace to the safety or welfare of america.” That is made it exhausting for Afghan refugees, relations to enter right here. How do you reassure the general public that these refugees aren’t a threat? Even the Vice President of america has stated he doesn’t belief the vetting of refugees.

MCCAIN: Properly, I imply, I feel I handed the final word check in that I actually put my lives in- my life in these peoples’ fingers. So not solely are they worthy of belief, however they’re worthy of our care. The vetting course of has taken place. It continues to happen. And if vetting is the difficulty, implausible. Let’s move laws to resolve that downside. Let’s make sure that everybody up so far has been vetted. But when there’s one thing else that will make anybody on any facet of the aisle really feel safer, then nice, there is a resolution for this. It is known as the legislative course of. So I might urge lawmakers to do the one job that they are paid by the American folks to do, and to resolve the issue that we have now created ourselves.

MARGARET BRENNAN:  Secretary Rubio testified this week that he’ll observe the letter of the legislation as written by Congress. Congress had established a program to assist pay for the Afghans to be resettled right here. It is the CARE Program on the State Division, however now this system is not paying the best way for these Afghans. How troublesome is it for a few of the Afghans you understand to pay to get their spouse, their relations right here?

MCCAIN:  These folks have been taken from their nation with solely the garments on their again in about 99% of instances. They have been dumped off into places that they have been unfamiliar with, and as a lot as service members and the federal government did a tremendous quantity to attempt to help them, it is nonetheless not sufficient. While you think about the large change of their lives, to not point out the truth that their complete nation and household has now been shattered on account of American motion. It’s past troublesome. I’ve people who’re fight wounded, who’ve excessive accidents that make them virtually unable to work, and it isn’t like I can ship them to the VA even though they bought shot at on behalf of the American authorities. So I might say that life is extraordinarily troublesome, however these people are of nice resolve, and they’re doing all the pieces they’ll to beat and to change into nice People, the good People that I do know they are going to be, and that anyone that is aware of them personally is aware of them to be.

MARGARET BRENNAN:  There have been just a few investigations of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, by the Pentagon, by the State Division. They’ve discovered fault with the Biden administration. They’ve discovered fault with the primary Trump administration. This previous week, Secretary Hegseth introduced he’ll do a brand new investigation of all of it. That it is going to be led by his spokesperson. It is unclear why that particular person particularly. What do you suppose was lacking from these unique opinions?

MCCAIN:  I do not suppose something is lacking from these unique opinions, and I do not suppose that going again over the method of the withdrawal goes to resolve any of the very actual issues that exist right now. It was political theater the primary time, it’s political theater the second time, and it’s political theater but once more. This does nothing to resolve the issue that we created. This does nothing to make the lives of Afghans higher. This does nothing to assist stabilize the area. It’s merely the Biden administration pointing the finger on the Trump administration, the Trump administration pointing the finger on the Biden administration. It is occurring once more. It is a ineffective waste of effort, however frankly, it’s one which I see persevering with.

MARGARET BRENNAN:  Earlier than I allow you to go. Your father famously stated it issues much less that you could struggle, however what you struggle for is the true check. I do know you’re feeling passionately about this explicit concern. Are you able to ever see your self getting into politics to struggle for different points?

MCCAIN:  That is a really attention-grabbing query, one which I occur to get requested pretty commonly. And I might say, attempting to observe his instance, that the very best life is one lived adventurously, and if- in service of a trigger higher than one’s self curiosity. I am doing that, and if sometime that does take me to workplace, in service of the nation, then by all means. However to dwell a life merely centered on the one aim of achieving public workplace will not be, in my thoughts, a life purposefully lived. In service and in workplace, it’s a purposefully lived one, however that shouldn’t be the overriding aim of your life.

MARGARET BRENNAN:  We are going to proceed watching. Jack McCain, thanks for weighing in on this vital concern.

MCCAIN: Thanks a lot.