"On the subject of Osama bin Laden... we will track him down. We will capture him. We will bring him to justice, and I will follow him to the gates of hell"
About this Quote
The subtext is resolve-as-credential. McCain’s brand was biography: POW, hawk, patriot with scars. By making the pursuit of bin Laden a test of will, he implicitly contrasts himself with a Washington he often portrayed as cautious, compromised, or bureaucratic. "Justice" nods to legality, but the language around it is visceral and absolute, a careful balance meant to reassure moderates while thrilling voters hungry for certainty.
Context sharpens the intent. In the post-9/11 political climate, bin Laden functioned as a symbol for unfinished business, and candidates competed to embody toughness and closure. McCain’s line taps that longing, converting national trauma into a vow of competence and stamina. The "I will" is the tell: this is less a strategy than an identity claim, asking the public to hire a particular kind of man for an era defined by fear, anger, and the demand for retribution.
Quote Details
| Topic | War |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
McCain, John. (2026, January 17). On the subject of Osama bin Laden... we will track him down. We will capture him. We will bring him to justice, and I will follow him to the gates of hell. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/on-the-subject-of-osama-bin-laden-we-will-track-54834/
Chicago Style
McCain, John. "On the subject of Osama bin Laden... we will track him down. We will capture him. We will bring him to justice, and I will follow him to the gates of hell." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/on-the-subject-of-osama-bin-laden-we-will-track-54834/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"On the subject of Osama bin Laden... we will track him down. We will capture him. We will bring him to justice, and I will follow him to the gates of hell." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/on-the-subject-of-osama-bin-laden-we-will-track-54834/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.



