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The father of a Muslim-American Army captain killed in Iraq offered a challenge to Donald Trump during a speech at the Democratic National Convention. Khizr Kahn's son, Humayun Khan, was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004.
Gov. Mike Pence, the Republican vice presidential nominee, addressed members of the American Legislative Exchange Council on Friday, July 29, 2016, at its annual meeting in Indianapolis.(Photo: Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar)
INDIANAPOLIS —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Gov. Mike Pence released a statement Sunday night about the death of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Captain Humayun Khan, the deceased soldier whose parents spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia Thursday night.
This is the first time Pence has spoken about the topic, having previously deferred questions to Trump's campaign.
In a statement posted on his<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Facebook page, Pence said he and Trump both value the sacrifices made by Khan and his family.
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"Donald Trump and I believe that Captain Humayun Khan is an American hero and his family, like all Gold Star families, should be cherished by every American," the statement reads.
Khizr Khan, Humayun's father, spoke out against Trump during the emotional speech, saying Trump had "sacrificed nothing and no one." Trump fired back, saying Khan had "no right" to criticize him and that he had made many sacrifices.
“I think I've made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard," Trump told ABC's George Stephanopoulos. "I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures. I've had tremendous success. I think I've done a lot.”
Trump also speculated that Khan's wife, Ghazala, who stood silent beside him as he delivered his remarks, "maybe wasn't allowed to have anything to say."
Khan was killed by a suicide bomber<span style="color: Red;">*</span>12 years ago while serving in<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Baghdad.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>In an emotional speech,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Khizr Khan said his son, a Muslim, would never have been allowed to have lived in Donald Trump's America.
"Donald Trump consistently<span style="color: Red;">*</span>smears the character of Muslims," Khan said.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"He disrespects other minorities,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>women,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>judges,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>even his own party leadership."
Pence's statement further clarified the candidates' positions on the issue of Muslim immigration, which has been a divisive topic between the two men. At the time Trump announced his proposed ban, Pence rebuked the proposal on<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Twitter, calling it "offensive and unconstitutional."
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"By suspending immigration from countries that have been compromised by terrorism, rebuilding our military, defeating ISIS at its source and projecting strength on the global stage, we will reduce the likelihood that other American families will face the enduring heartbreak of the Khan family," Pence said in the statement.
Ghazala responded to Trump's remarks in an op-ed for the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Washington Post<span style="color: Red;">*</span>on Sunday.
Trump's statements garnered response<span style="color: Red;">*</span>from Democrats and Republicans alike:
There's only one way to talk about Gold Star parents: with honor and respect. Capt. Khan is a hero. Together, we should pray for his family.
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) July 31, 2016
Follow Holly V.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Hays on Twitter:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>@hollyvhays
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