Khizr Khan, the father of a slain U.S. soldier, on Thursday condemned Donald Trump’s recent rhetoric on the U.S. military, saying the GOP presidential nominee’s comments disqualify him from serving as commander in chief.
{mosads}During a press call organized by Hillary Clinton’s campaign, Khan needled Trump for criticizing a military expert and saying that he could “teach him a couple of things.”
Trump has also commented on the current military offensive to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), calling it a “total disaster” and knocking military leaders for discussing strategy in advance.
“Donald Trump, your practice of division and hatred is unacceptable to America,” Khan said on the call. “I address you directly that if you aspire to be the commander in chief of the armed forces of the United States, you have proven yourself disqualified temperamentally.”
Khan, whose son, Army Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in 2004 while serving in Iraq, has sparred with Trump following the convention speech in Philadelphia this summer where he denounced the Republican. Khan has spoken out against the real estate mogul numerous times since the speech and will hit the campaign trail for Clinton in Virginia.
Trump has repeatedly said that if he were president in 2004, Khan’s son would not have died in Iraq because he wouldn’t have started the war.
“Time after time, you have insulted our military leaders, you have insulted Muslims, you have insulted women, you have insulted Latinos,” Khan said. “I want you to know this that this practice of hatred and disrespect is not acceptable to the people of the United States, and we stand today with the most capable candidate.”
Retired Marine General John Allen, who endorsed Clinton over the summer, was also on the call condemning Trump’s recent rhetoric on the military, calling it “very concerning” and touting Clinton has someone who is “calm under pressure” and can handle world crises.
“There’s been an unwritten standard among American political leadership for many years to always support our troops in combat,” Allen said. “However he feels personally about this operation, he should be encouraging our efforts publicly rather than disparaging them.”