A group of Gold Star families called on Donald Trump to apologize for his "offensive and anti-American" comments directed at the parents of fallen U.S. soldier Captain Humayun Khan.
The GOP presidential nominee and Khan's father, Khizr Khan have engaged in a
war of words after Mr. Khan criticized Trump during a Democratic National Convention speech.
Trump questioned why Khan's mother did not speak and compared his construction business to the sacrifices service members' families have made.
Family members of 17 fallen service members
released a letter demanding an apology from Trump:
"Your recent comments regarding the Khan family were repugnant, and personally offensive to us. When you question a mother's pain, by implying that her religion, not her grief, kept her from addressing an arena of people, you are attacking us. When you say your job building buildings is akin to our sacrifice, you are attacking our sacrifice."
Adding that Trump's comments cheapen the loss of the service members' families.
"You are minimizing the risk our service members make for all of us. This goes beyond politics. It is about a sense of decency. The kind of decency you mock as 'political correctness.'
"We feel we must speak out and demand you apologize to the Khans, to all Gold Star families, and to all Americans for your offensive, and frankly anti-American, comments. We hope you will hear us."
Top leaders in Congress released statements on Sunday and weighed in on the controversy.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid called House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell "spineless and cowards" for continuing to support Trump after his comments.
But McConnell and Ryan defended the Khan family in statements, with McConnell calling Captain Khan an "American hero," and Ryan saying Khan's sacrifice "and that of Khizir and Ghazala Khan should always be honored. Period."
Retired Marine Corps
Gen. John Allen said Trump's comments are a "direct insult" to the armed forces.
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