A video of Arizona Sen. John McCain being chased by protesters on the Navajo Nation is trending on social media.
McCain made the stop last week as he celebrated a holiday honoring World War II code talkers.
"Deeply honored to salute the Navajo Code Talkers today — our nation owes these heroes a debt we can never fully repay," McCain tweeted on Friday.
McCain participated in ceremonies and then stopped at a Window Rock museum where protestors, including those opposed to a land deal for a mine near Superior known as Oak Flat, were sitting and chanting.
Highway patrol officers struggled to block the front doors after the group spotted McCain and worked to get outside. In the video, McCain's SUV can be seen leaving suddenly while protestors follow.
McCain's communications director emailed to say the Senator's exit was planned.
"Senator McCain took off and returned home with Governor Ducey exactly as scheduled, and he certainly wasn't 'chased off' the reservation. This small group of young protesters had no impact on his meetings with top tribal leaders on a range of key issues, including the EPA's recent Gold King Mine spill which threatens to contaminate the Navajo Nation's water supply."
More on the protests surrounding mining in Oak Flat here.
