--- title: John McCain Emphasizes US Allegiance to Allies in Italy description: Sen. John McCain spoke at an international economic and policy conference in Italy, where he touted American values canonical: https://time.com/4925919/john-mccain-italy-conference-speech/ author: Jennifer Calfas article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-09-02T18:57:30.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:54:08.136Z article:section: Politics og:title: John McCain to Foreign Allies: America Is Still Committed og:description: "No one has ever gotten rich betting against America, my friends" og:url: https://time.com/4925919/john-mccain-italy-conference-speech/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6f29a91553e30f5/6988dc44e76ad227b562f021/john-mccain-italy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3568 og:image:height: 2007 og:image:alt: Key Speakers At The Ambrosetti Forum og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: John McCain to Foreign Allies: America Is Still Committed twitter:description: "No one has ever gotten rich betting against America, my friends" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6f29a91553e30f5/6988dc44e76ad227b562f021/john-mccain-italy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # John McCain to Foreign Allies: Despite Trump's Actions, America Is Still Committed to You > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=5164a206-9888-496d-92ca-3fc6e55a9640&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | TIME, August 2026 | | Subscribers | 85,000 | TIME, August 2026 | | Open rate | 37.0% | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Philip Elliott, Senior Correspondent | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The policy influence ecosystem. A policy-focused audience spanning government, public affairs, advocacy, law, research, political media, and the institutions that make, interpret and respond to public policy. ### TIME D.C. Brief: key statements * D.C. Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * D.C. Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=5164a206-9888-496d-92ca-3fc6e55a9640&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/subscribe?i=5164a206-9888-496d-92ca-3fc6e55a9640&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's politics newsletter? D.C. Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. It reaches 85,000 subscribers with a 37.0% open rate as of August 2026. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: John McCain Casts Decisive Vote Against Senate Obamacare Repeal [Watch (HLS stream): John McCain Casts Decisive Vote Against Senate Obamacare Repeal](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/EQbEkt03.m3u8) (0:20)  _Published 2017-07-28. The so-called "skinny repeal" of Obamacare went down in flames early Friday after three Republicans—Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine—joined with all 48 Democrats in voting against the measure_ by [Jennifer Calfas](https://time.com/author/jennifer-calfas/) ## Jennifer Calfas Sep 2, 2017 6:57 PM UTC  Senator John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, leaves after a session during the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, Italy, on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. Senator John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, leaves after a session during the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, Italy, on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. Bloomberg—Bloomberg via Getty Images by [Jennifer Calfas](https://time.com/author/jennifer-calfas/) ## Jennifer Calfas Sep 2, 2017 6:57 PM UTC In a speech urging unity and advocating America’s leadership, Arizona Sen. [John McCain](http://time.com/4924866/john-mccain-congress-trump-op-ed/) emphasized the importance of the country’s relationships with foreign allies amid an uncertain time in America at an international economic and policy conference in Lake Como, Italy. McCain, who attended the Ambrosetti Forum this weekend with his colleague Sen. [Lindsey Graham](http://time.com/4814033/lindsey-graham-trump-russia-investigation/), pointed to rhetoric from [President Donald Trump](http://time.com/4925772/donald-trump-returns-to-texas-to-visit-harvey-victims/) as a reason some of these long-lasting relationships have been in doubt. “I realize that I come to Italy at a time when many are questioning whether America is still committed to remaining engaged in the world, to upholding our traditional alliances, and standing up for the values we share,” McCain, a frequent Republican critic of the president, said, according to remarks [shared by his staff](https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=press-releases&id=F70180AF-BA22-490A-8961-770956752EF8). “I also realize — and there is no point in avoiding a little straight talk here — that this doubt has much to do with some of the actions and statements of our President.” McCain used the speech to emphasize the valuable nature of the relationship the United States has with its European allies — especially with Italy, which he noted plays a role “in protecting our common security.” He then said there is a “real debate” occurring in the U.S. about the role it must play in the world and with other countries. “What I do believe, and I do not think I am exaggerating here, is that the future of the world will turn, to a large extent, on how this debate in America is resolved,” McCain said. His remarks [echoed a speech](http://fortune.com/2017/05/30/john-mccain-donald-trump-australia/) the Republican senator made in May in Australia, where he said Trump had “unsettled America’s friends” and Americans themselves. Earlier in his tenure in the White House, a [Washington _Post_ report revealed](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/no-gday-mate-on-call-with-australian-pm-trump-badgers-and-brags/2017/02/01/88a3bfb0-e8bf-11e6-80c2-30e57e57e05d%5Fstory.html?utm%5Fterm=.4f5113882195) a tense phone call between Trump and Australian Prime Miniseer Malcolm Turnbull. As for the U.S.’s European allies, Trump has made a number of varying statements on the U.S.’s participation in NATO and pulled the country from the Paris Climate Accord. Still, despite this rhetoric, McCain urged the country’s allegiance with its allies and spoke to what he says makes America strong. He recalled [Heather Heyer](http://time.com/4903201/heather-heyer-memorial-service-charlottesville/), the 32-year-old woman who was killed while protesting a white supremacist and neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Va., last month. He also pointed to the ongoing recovery efforts in [Houston](http://time.com/4924282/harvey-death-toll-investigation/) and southeast Texas, as tens of thousands of people grapple with one of the most damaging and costly natural disasters in U.S. history. “This is America at its best — ordinary people, despite long odds, rising to master moments of extraordinary challenge, powered by their belief in that most simple and audacious of ideas — that all people are created equal,” McCain said. “Put simply: No one has ever gotten rich betting against America, my friends, and now is not a good time to start.” McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was diagnosed with brain cancer in July. The Arizona senator plans to return to the Senate after its August recess this Tuesday. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4925919/john-mccain-italy-conference-speech/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4925919/john-mccain-italy-conference-speech/"},"headline":"John McCain to Foreign Allies: Despite Trump's Actions, America Is Still Committed to You","datePublished":"2017-09-02T18:57:30.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:54:08.136Z","description":"\"No one has ever gotten rich betting against America, my friends\"","url":"https://time.com/4925919/john-mccain-italy-conference-speech/","keywords":["Senate","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6f29a91553e30f5/6988dc44e76ad227b562f021/john-mccain-italy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Calfas","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/jennifer-calfas/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6f29a91553e30f5/6988dc44e76ad227b562f021/john-mccain-italy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Key Speakers At The Ambrosetti Forum","caption":"Key Speakers At The Ambrosetti Forum","creditText":"Bloomberg—Bloomberg via Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/senate/","name":"Senate"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4925919/john-mccain-italy-conference-speech/","name":"John McCain to Foreign Allies: Despite Trump's Actions, America Is Still Committed to You"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"John McCain Casts Decisive Vote Against Senate Obamacare Repeal","description":"The so-called \"skinny repeal\" of Obamacare went down in flames early Friday after three Republicans—Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine—joined with all 48 Democrats in voting against the measure","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/EQbEkt03/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2017-07-28T13:18:24.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/EQbEkt03.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4925919/john-mccain-italy-conference-speech/","duration":"PT20S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4925919/john-mccain-italy-conference-speech/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```