The New York Times reports that an internal Trump campaign memo instructs his proxies to “express gratitude for the Khans’ sacrifice” but adds that Trump has a “right to defend himself”. Trump responded on social media saying: “I was viciously attacked by Mr. Khan at the Democratic Convention”.
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Khan’s parents were thrown into the national spotlight last week after they gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention that criticized Trump. “Folks – that’s what freedom looks like and that’s what freedom sounds like, okay?” The family lost their son, a decorated American soldier, in Iraq.
McCain was among several lawmakers – many facing re-election this fall – who distanced themselves from Trump’s comments Monday.
Trump stoked further outrage by implying Ghazala Khan didn’t speak while standing alongside her husband at the convention because she’s a Muslim woman.
He then talked about Trump and said that the businessman supports veterans “like no other leader in my lifetime”. Now, there are also questions surrounding Trump’s explanations of how he avoided military service in the Vietnam war. Nobody knows if they’re ISIS, they don’t know who they are. “Ours is a sacrifice we would never want you to know”.
Trump also suggested Khan’s wife was not allowed to speak because the couple is Muslim, and that it was the candidate’s position on keeping terrorists out of the country that bothered Khan.
Republican Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war and the most prominent veteran in Congress, along with the commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, joined the chorus of condemnation, reflecting the highly regarded place the military and its veterans hold with many in the United States.
“I am dismayed at the attacks Khizr and Ghazala Khan have endured after they spoke about their son’s service and sacrifice”.
And Rep. Richard Hanna, R-New York, became the first House Republican to say he will vote for Hillary Clinton because Trump is “unfit to serve our party and can not lead this country”. Aides say Trump often professes to understand the risks of fuelling a controversy, but he can get drawn back.
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Trump running mate Mike Pence posted a statement to Facebook on Sunday arguing that both he and Trump believe Humayun Khan should be “cherished” by all Americans. His continued back-and-forth with Muslim-American parents of a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq left most Hill Republicans perplexed at how the GOP nominee wouldn’t let go of a spat with a grieving couple.
