House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are distancing themselves from Trump to honor the Khan family, but they are still supporting Trump as a candidate.

khanAt the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Khizr Khan, the father of a fallen U.S. Army war hero took to the stage, with his wife by his side, to blast Donald Trump.

Khizr Khan waved a copy of the U.S. Constitution and demanded that Republican nominee Donald Trump honor the sacrifice of his son, who was a Muslim. His son, U.S. Army Capt. Humayun S.M. Khan (pictured), was killed in action while serving in Iraq.

After the convention, the drama spiraled out of control.

Donald Attacks The Soldier’s Mother

  • Donald Trump made fun of the fallen soldier’s mother, Ghazala. He made a rude comment saying, “If you look at his wife, she was standing there…She had nothing to say… Maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.”
  • Khizr Khan responded to Trump’s comment on his wife saying that he has a “black soul.”
  • Ghazala Khan responded to Trump directly by saying, “Walking on to the convention stage, with a huge picture of my son behind me, I could hardly control myself. What mother could? Donald Trump has children whom he loves. Does he really need to wonder why I did not speak?” She also said Trump, “doesn’t know what the word sacrifice means.”




Top Republicans’ Statements

Trump’s fellow Republicans stand by his campaign, but still denounce his Islamophobic and inappropriate remarks, as usual.

House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell both issued statements about the incident, but didn’t mention Trump by name, or stop supporting his campaign.

  • Mitch McConnell’s statement on Sunday said that Captain Khan was a hero and, “like all Americans, I’m grateful for the sacrifices that selfless young men like Capt. Khan and their families have made in the war on terror….All Americans should value the patriotic service of the patriots who volunteer to selflessly defend us in the armed services.”
  • Paul Ryan’s statement said eloquently, “Many Muslim Americans have served valiantly in our military, and made the ultimate sacrifice. Captain Khan was one such brave example. His sacrifice — and that of Khizr and Ghazala Khan —should always be honored. Period.”
  • Republican Senator John McCain, who was former prisoner of war,  issued a clear statement: “I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump’s statement. While our party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us. “

 

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid called the both out on their “cowardice,” for not withdrawing support of Trump.

Khan himself asked the two Republicans to withdraw their support of Trump, saying:

“There is so much at stake, and I appeal to both of these leaders, this is the time…There comes a time in the history of a nation where an ethical, moral stand has to be taken regardless of the political costs. The only reason they’re not repudiating his behavior, his threat to our democracy, our decency, our foundation, is just because of political consequences.”



While House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell aren’t withdrawing their support for Trump as a candidate, they are showing respect to the Khan family by distancing themselves from Trump.