The controversy stems from Trump’s questioning of Ghazala Khan, the mother of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, a Muslim-American who was killed in 2004 by a vehicle bomb in Iraq.
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Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr has distanced himself from GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump’s comments about the Muslim-American parents whose son died fighting in Iraq. His father, Khizr Khan, highlighted that sacrifice in his DNC speech and rebuked Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from immigrating to the U.S.
Trump responded by implying Ghazala Khan’s religion prevented her from speaking at the convention, although she later said talking publicly about her late son was still too hard.
“Time and time again, Trump has disrespected our nation’s armed forces and veterans, and his disrespect for Mr. Khan and his family is just an example of that”, she said.
Trump is also taking criticism for comments he made after a military veteran gave Trump his Purple Heart award.
“I don’t know what point we’re going to reach but it seems week after week it just gets worse”, she said.
“When Donald Trump is talking about Islam, he is ignorant”, she wrote. Democrats say those laws are aimed at depressing turnout of minority voters who favor Democrats. “He will say whatever he wants to”, she said.
Separately, a bipartisan coalition of 40 veterans, family members of military people killed in the line of duty and others sent a letter to Trump Monday calling for an apology.
In a statement, Pence said he and Trump believe Khan is “an American hero” and said “his family, like all Gold Star families, should be cherished by every American”.
The crowd starting booing after hearing her question.
Trump spokeswoman Katrina Pierson said on Fox News Tuesday that it was likely Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama’s changing of the rules of engagement that led to Khan’s death.
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“I said nice things about the son, and I feel that very strongly”, the Republican presidential nominee told Sinclair Broadcast Group in an interview. “There is never enough honor we can show to the families of those whose loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country”, Thornberry said. “Go look at the graves of courageous patriots who died defending the United States of America”, Khan said.
