‘ POCAHONTAS’ JAB BY TRUMP CALLED ‘ INSULT’ TO VETS

Families of Native American war veterans and politicians of both major parties are criticizing President Donald Trump for using a White House event honouring Navajo Code Talkers to take a political jab at a Democratic senator he has nicknamed “Pocahontas.”

The Republican president on Monday turned to a nickname he often deployed for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren during the 2016 presidential campaign to mock her claims about being part Native American. He told the three Navajo Code Talkers on stage that he had affection for them that he doesn’t have for her.

“It was uncalled for,” said Marty Thompson, whose great- uncle was a Navajo Code Talker. “He can say what he wants when he’s out doing his presidential business among his people, but when it comes to honouring veterans or any kind of people, he needs to grow up and quit saying things like that.”

The National Congress of American Indians says Trump wrongly flipped her name into a derogatory term.

Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, a Vietnam War veteran, tweeted Tuesday that “politicizing these genuine American heroes is an insult to their sacrifice.”