Khan family blasts Trump’s comments on fallen soldiers

Gold Star parents Khizr Khan and his wife Ghazala Khan on Tuesday slammed President Trump after he defended his delay in responding to the recent deaths in Niger and claimed past presidents did not reach out to the families of fallen soldiers as much as he has. 

Trump’s “selfish and divisive actions have undermined the dignity of the high office of the presidency, one more time he has shown the nation him undeserving of the leadership of our great nation,” the couple said in a statement to The Hill.

{mosads}

The Khans, who lost their son in combat in 2004, expressed solidarity with the families of the four U.S. Green Berets who were killed in an ambush in Niger earlier this month.

“We stand with the families in their grief and pray for their strength and peace,” the couple said in a statement.

“And tell them that this nation will never forget the service and sacrifice the brave hero sons made on behalf of this great nation and for our liberty and safety; their families’ service and sacrifice will also be always remembered,” their statement continued.

The Khans, who have become outspoken critics of the president, first made national headlines when Khizr Khan blasted Trump at the Democratic National Convention last year. He memorably asked if the then-GOP candidate had read the Constitution while holding up a pocket-sized version of the document to the crowd.

His remarks Tuesday come after Trump on Monday claimed former President Obama and other past presidents didn’t call the families of fallen soldiers during a freewheeling press conference in the White House Rose Garden.

“The traditional way, if you look at President Obama and other presidents, most of them didn’t make calls, a lot of them didn’t make calls,” Trump said in response to a question about the attack.

“I like to call when it’s appropriate, when I think I’m able to do it,” he said.

When pressed on his statement, the president said he was “told” that Obama didn’t call the families of slain soldiers often.

“And some presidents didn’t do anything,” Trump continued.

The Khan’s son, Humayun Khan, was killed serving in Iraq. He was awarded both the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals posthumously.