Khizr Khan, the father of a U.S. Soldier killed in Iraq in 2004, said Sunday that Donald Trump has a "Black soul," indicating he lacks empathy and compassion.
Khan told CNN's Jim Acosta on "State of the Union" that he hopes Trump's family will "Teach him some empathy."
"He is a black soul, and this is totally unfit for the leadership of this country," Khan said. "The love and affection that we have received affirms that our grief -- that our experience in this country has been correct and positive.The world is receiving us like we have never seen. They have seen the blackness of his character, of his soul."
Khan moved into the national spotlight after he pulled out a pocket copy of the Constitution during his speech at the Democratic National Convention. He said Trump would have barred his Muslim family from entering the United States. Ref. CNN.
The controversy over Donald Trump’s attacks on the family of a slain American soldier continued to rage Monday.
Khizr and Ghazala Khan appeared on CNN’s “New Day” in which Khizr Khan criticized Trump and pleaded for unity and empathy.
Kahn stressed the need to work with Muslim communities to combat radicalization, while again slamming Trump for his divisive rhetoric.
"Communities coming together is the solution," he said. "We are as concerned as Donald Trump is about the safety of this country. We are a testament to the goodness of this country."
At almost the same time, Sen. John McCain issue a statement blasting Trump’s comments about the Khans and paying homage to their son Humayun’s sacrifice.
“It is time for Donald Trump to set the example for our country and the future of the Republican Party,” McCain said. “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. Ref. CNN.
Obama says Republican leaders should withdraw endorsement of Trump
President Obama declared Donald Trump unfit for office on Tuesday, and called on Republicans to distance themselves from their party's presidential nominee. "Yes, I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president," he said Tuesday at a press conference with the prime minister of Singapore. "I said so last week, and he keeps on proving it. ... The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that has made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country, the fact that he doesn't appear to have basic knowledge around critical issues in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia, means that he's woefully unprepared to do this job." Ref. USAToday.
In USA TODAY interview, Khizr and Ghazala Khan blame Trump for growing intolerance toward Muslims
Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the Gold Star parents whose appearance at the Democratic convention led to a feud with Donald Trump, say they were compelled to speak out because the welcome they felt when they immigrated to the U.S. Nearly four decades ago is eroding in the face of this year's presidential campaign. Khizr Khan, whose son, U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq in 2004, says Trump's comments on banning Muslim immigrants and his provocative statements against Mexicans and others bear some of the responsibility for a loss of civility and restraint. Ref. USAToday.