As Congress approaches the end of its vacation, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) is launching a fall offensive challenging President Trump.

McCain’s drive against Trump included critical remarks about the president at an international economic meeting in Italy as well as his views of Trump in a commentary published in The Washington Post.

In Italy, McCain reassured the international community about the U.S. commitment to long standing relationships with allies that the Senator claims Trump is undermining.

Time reports:

“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. “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.”

In his Washington Post commentary, McCain declared Congress must work independently from Trump citing the president’s inexperience that demands the legislative branch unite and work policy solutions on a bipartisan basis.

That has never been truer than today, when Congress must govern with a president who has no experience of public office, is often poorly informed and can be impulsive in his speech and conduct.

We must respect his authority and constitutional responsibilities. We must, where we can, cooperate with him. But we are not his subordinates. We don’t answer to him. We answer to the American people. We must be diligent in discharging our responsibility to serve as a check on his power. And we should value our identity as members of Congress more than our partisan affiliation.

The media jumped on McCain’s views to highlight the challenges Trump is facing this fall.

From CNN:

President Donald Trump is in for a bumpy political ride when Congress reconvenes after Labor Day. A remarkable number of leaders of the President’s party have begun sharply criticizing Trump, signaling that he can no longer expect lawmakers to follow the White House’s lead on major legislation.

The latest blast from Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who was elected to his sixth term in the Senate on the same day Trump won last November.

The CNN commentary advertises divisions within the Republican ranks attributed to what the author says is an “erratic and embattled President….”

McCain is becoming the biggest critic of Trump and provides the media with ample ammunition to carry out its vendetta against the president.