Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) also focused on the sacrifices of Muslim Americans in the military and didn’t engage with Trump’s comments directly.
“Many Muslim Americans have served valiantly in our military, and made the ultimate sacrifice,” Ryan said Sunday afternoon. “Captain Khan was one such brave example. His sacrifice—and that of Khizr and Ghazala Khan—should always be honored. Period.”
Democrats were dissatisfied with the comments by their Republican counterparts. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called the statements “spineless,” and said that “anything short of revoking their endorsements is cowardice,” according to a report by The Hill.
Trump’s Vice President nominee Mike Pence, tried to calm the storm, issuing a statement that praised the Khan family.
“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,” Pence said in a statement on Facebook.“Captain Khan gave his life to defend our country in the global war on terror.”
He then went on to defend Trump’s call to suspend immigration.
“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 continued.
Top Trump ally, Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) also defended Trump’s attacks on the Khan family, echoing Pence, and focusing on the importance of stopping potential terrorists into this country.
