World

Donald Trump responds to slain Pakistani-American soldier's dad: 'I have made sacrifices'

'Who wrote that? Did Hillary's script writers write it?' Trump says about Khan's address at Democratic convention

Afp July 31, 2016

Donald Trump. PHOTO: CNN

WASHINGTON DC: Donald Trump hit back Saturday at accusations from the father of a slain Muslim soldier that the billionaire has "sacrificed nothing" for his country, saying he had employed thousands of people.

Khizr Khan -- whose son died in Iraq -- accused the Republican presidential nominee of vilifying American Muslims in a steely rebuke that electrified the Democratic convention on Thursday.

'You have sacrificed nothing and no one': Father of Pakistani-American war hero to Trump

"Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending the United States of America," Khan said to Trump.

"You will see all faiths, genders and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing and no one."

Trump brushed off Khan's words in an interview with ABC News, stating that he thinks he has made "a lot of sacrifices".

"I work very, very hard. I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures. I've had tremendous success. I think I've done a lot."

The brash billionaire has alienated many Americans with insults against immigrants, Muslims and women during his nomination campaign.

Among his more controversial policy positions has been his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States and suggestions he would back profiling them.

Trump also questioned whether his rival, Hillary Clinton, had been behind Khan's address, which the father said he wrote with his wife Ghazala.

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"Who wrote that? Did Hillary's script writers write it?" Trump said in the interview, which is set to air in full on Sunday.

"If you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say," Trump said, adding that "maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say."

Clinton released a statement Saturday defending the Khans as "the best of America".

"I was very moved to see Ghazala Khan stand bravely and with dignity in support of her son on Thursday night," Clinton said.

"This is a time to honor the sacrifice of Captain Khan and all the fallen. Captain Khan and his family represent the best of America, and we salute them."

In a late Saturday statement from the Republican's campaign, Trump praised Captain Khan as "a hero to our country and we should honor all who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country safe."

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However Trump rejected the claim that he had never read the US constitution.

"While I feel deeply for the loss of his son, Mr. Khan who has never met me, has no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim I have never read the constitution, (which is false) and say many other inaccurate things," Trump said.

Trump also released what he says is the transcript of the ABC interview.

COMMENTS (17)

سے Shaam (Hanafi) | 7 years ago | Reply People talking about Gulf war, perhaps are innocently unaware, that Americans or the Nato forces were hired assassins by the Royal Family of "KSA". They paid Americans 50 Billion US dollars for a year to overthrow Saddam, who took over Kuwait.Kuwaiti royal family and Saudi royal families are connected not just with religion (hanafi) but blood too, they are cousins.

Reader | 7 years ago | Reply I wonder that how so-called most educated nation of the world can vote for a person like Donald Trump.

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Ch. Allah Daad | 7 years ago | Reply @bharat: Why Trump would send his sons to Iraq to kill innocent Iraqis. You should know that Trump opposed Iraq war while Hillary Clinton voted for Iraq war which was unjust and cruel. Millions of Iraqis and Syrians have been killed because of that war. If Trump had been President at that time, son of this couple would have been alive today. It's pity that Clinton is taking advantage of that cruel and unjust war which she supported and sadly this couple has become her tool.

Aamir - Toronto | 7 years ago | Reply Donald Trump is simply a disgrace to America and an embarrassment to every American !!

Ch. Allah Daad | 7 years ago | Reply @waqar Where did you hear that jobs are not important. In any developed country, job and economy plays most important role in outcome of any election, unless country is already in war. Bush senior had won first Iraq war, his popularity was over 70% but he lost elections because of economy. The term, "it's economy stupid" was coined at that time. For Americans in this election too, economy would play most important part. If nothing extra ordinary happens second would be terrorism. Trump has secured both sides. Democrats are counting on minorities and I would say they are playing minorities card well. It would be a very close election.

Ch. Allah Daad | 7 years ago | Reply Muslims in America have a very bad image. The more they tilt towards democrats, there would be more chances of Trump to win.

Sunil | 7 years ago | Reply Khizr Khan — whose son died in Iraq, is an another country, did not defend for United States. It was an invasion.

Rollin & Trollin | 7 years ago | Reply @lol: That's because quite a few of the behind-the-scenes personnel working at, say, CNN and BBC are Indian or of Indian origin, so they have their own agenda.

M. Emad | 7 years ago | Reply Good response by Donald Trump.

M.S. | 7 years ago | Reply Families of Martyrs should not take sides in a political war. The poor parents have smartly been used by democrats who would not care them after elections. If Trump has made no sacrifice, same is true for Clinton. I am sorry to say but Muslim support for Clinton would cost her election.

waqar | 7 years ago | Reply wonderful speech by K Khan on democratic convention 2016, what trumps comments reply, in response to Khans, is not very effective. what trumps quoted 'he created more jobs" see the Jobs are always in life will come and go its does not effect, but if you see other way sacrifices for the country is countless its always remember in all time of era.

Parvez | 7 years ago | Reply Bringing out the Khans at the Democratic Convention was a smart move ..... cosmetic though it may be, it made for good television.

DDT | 7 years ago | Reply On December 2, 2015 a Pakistani/American couple did a horrific job in San Bernardino. Such acts empower DT. Where do you think the Pakistani/American dynamic duo are buried - in Arlington Cemetery?. One more terror attack in US before the election, Trump will use his DDT rancour against Muslims.and Khan's noble speech will be history.

bharat | 7 years ago | Reply No Trump you can never make sacrifice like these parents whose life is shattered. Your children are busy earning billions.Sent them to Iraq first and then speak.

NKAli | 7 years ago | Reply It's very clear that the presence of Mr and Mrs Khan had a devastating effect on Trump. In fact he got "Trumped." His comments on Mrs Khan reglects the bad upbringing Trump may have got in childhood. It will not surprise me to think that DAESH owes him a debt of gratitude. Salams

lol | 7 years ago | Reply If some Pakistani-American does something good, he/she is never mentioned as a Pakistani-American, they just simply call them "Americans". If somebody is found to be involved in a wrongful or criminal activity, the US media is quick to point out that the person is of "Pakistani" origin. Such is the level of bigotry in western media.

naeemhussain | 7 years ago | Reply If a man like Donald Trump would have been a candidate for president in some Muslim country the whole of the West was going to call him names like extremist, maniac, anti Jews and Christian and threat to the peace of the world. It shows the double standards of the West.

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