Republicans declare support for Khans in spat with Trump

Donald Trump’s feud with the parents of a fallen Muslim-American solider reached a tipping point on Monday as the Republican nominee backed off his criticism amid denouncements from members of his own party. He further stoked outrage by implying Ghazala Khan did not speak while standing alongside her husband at last week’s Democratic convention because they are Muslim. Said his wife: “My religion or my family or my culture never stopped me from saying what I want to say”. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, a Republican up for re-election in one of the nation’s most competitive elections.

The newly elected commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars has condemned Donald Trump’s derision of the mother of a slain Muslim-American soldier who was remembered at the Democratic National Convention last week.

Khizr Khan invited the Republican nominee to read the US Constitution and visit the graves of American soldiers from many backgrounds at Arlington National Cemetery.

For the second time in a week, Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, issued a statement that appeared created to put some space between the two men. “I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers or candidates”, according to his statement.

Trump was referring to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. He also suggested Ghazala Khan had been forced into silence. “She had nothing to say”, Trump told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.

In his convention speech, Khan talked about the death of his USA soldier son in Iraq and Donald Trump’s immigration stance, the New York Times reported in this story. Ayotte wrote that she is “appalled” by the way Trump “disparaged” the Khans and compared the loss of their son to his sacrifices.

“Am I not allowed to respond?”. Trump tweeted on Sunday morning.

Trump has largely dismissed Khan’s rhetorical attacks on him. “It’s going to be something that GOP leaders are going to have to answer for”, he said.

Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said the Khans “deserve our gratitude and honor; anything else is inappropriate”.

“I am dismayed at the attacks Khizr and Ghazala Khan have endured after they spoke about their son’s service and sacrifice”, Thornberry said. “I think for him to attack a mother who’s clearly still grieving her son, is shameful”. “What they’ve sacrificed is just unbelievable”.

On Monday, Trump redirected his comments to focus on “radical Islamic terrorism” rather than the Khan family.

In the days since, the Khans have made the rounds on television, saying on CNN’s “State of the Union” program Sunday that Trump “is a black soul” and calling on congressional GOP leaders to repudiate Trump’s comments.

Trump disputed Khizr’s comments this weekend. At the time Trump announced his proposed ban, Pence rebuked the proposal on Twitter, calling it “offensive and unconstitutional”. “And one doesn’t know where the bottom is”, Clinton told reporters in Ohio. Referencing the years McCain spent as a POW in Vietnam, the NY billionaire said, “I like people who weren’t captured”.

Donald Trump handily won South Carolina’s Republican primary, and the state is solidly red, all but certain to go into his column in the general election.