Donald Trump says Vietnam veteran, tortured POW, Distinguished Flying Cross awardee Senator John McCain ‘not a war hero’

US Presidential candidate Donald Trump has managed to provoke outrage yet again after he questioned Senator John McCain’s reputation as a “war hero”.

Republican Senator McCain, who lost the 2008 Presidential campaign to current Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama, was a US Navy aviator during the Vietnam war.

He was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967 and broke his arms and legs after being ejected from his aircraft.

He was captured and repeatedly tortured during a six-year internment at the “Hanoi Hilton” prison camp.

McCain refused an offer of early release by the North Vietnamese and finally returned to the US in 1973 following the Paris Peace Accords.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star and Purple Heart – but Republican Presidential candidate Mr Trump at an event overnight appeared to question whether he merited them, CNN has reported.

“He is not a war hero,” Mr Trump told the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa.

“He is a war hero because he was captured.

“I like people that weren’t captured, okay?”

Mr Trump’s comments sparked an immediate backlash from his fellow Republican candidates including Florida governor Jeb Bush.

“Enough with the slanderous attacks,” Mr Bush tweeted.

“@SenJohnMcCain and all our veterans  - particularly POWS have earned our respect and admiration.”

Mr Trump has since tried to back down from his comments, saying he did respect all American troops and his accusations were motivated by McCain doing “little” for his fellow veterans.