There’s a growing memorial of flowers and American flags surrounding the grave of fallen U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, as the slain Iraq war soldier’s parents continue to be embroiled in a war of words with presidential candidate Donald Trump. He was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
Advertisement
“I requested Sharon to introduce me, because I understood that our Gold Star families have made a sacrifice that most of us can’t even begin to imagine”.
The father of an American soldier killed in Iraq, Khan said Trump has sacrificed nothing for his country, and urged Republican leaders to distance themselves from the party’s nominee.
And a group of Gold Star families demanded an apology from Trump in an open letter published published overnight.
Among Trump’s most recent comments was a Tweet sent Monday claiming he was “viciously attacked” by the Kahns.
There was also no immediate comment from Texas’ two USA senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz.
One Republican member of the Texas congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry of Clarendon, said in a prepared statement that he is “dismayed at the attacks Khizr and Ghazala Khan have endured after they spoke about their son’s service and sacrifice”.
“No one has given more for our freedom and our security than our Gold Star families”, Obama said, adding that those families “represent the very best of our country”.
“That was the reason to bring out the constitution, to show him that we are all equal under the eyes of the creator and this country”, Khan said.
Mrs Khan has since penned an op-ed for The Washington Times, condemning Trump’s comments and explaining her reasons for not speaking at the DNC.
“She had nothing to say”, noted Trump on ABC. The morning after accepting the Republican nomination at the party’s convention, Trump re-litigated months-old grievances with primary rival Ted Cruz.
“I can not emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump’s statement”, said Arizona Sen.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a town hall campaign event, Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. He said he would like to hear from me.
In response, Trump made note of how Ghazala Khan didn’t speak at the convention and questioned whether she was even allowed, an insinuation perhaps to stereotypes of her Islamic faith.
Advertisement
She has criticized some of Trump’s rhetoric in the past. In an emotional speech that received rapturous applause, Pakistan-born Khizr Khan asked if Trump had read the Constitution, and said if it were up to Trump, his son never would have been American or served in the military.
