Obama lashes out at Trump's comments about a slain soldier's father
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
President Barack Obama took an indirect swipe at Donald Trump's criticism of the father of a slain Muslim-American soldier who was killed in combat in Iraq.
Speaking to a crowd in Atlanta on Monday, Obama condemned the Republican presidential nominee for targeting Khan, who insinuated at the Democratic National Convention that Trump's previous plan to bar all Muslims from entering the US showed that he didn't understand the US Constitution.
"Our Gold Star families have made a sacrifice that most of us cannot even begin to imagine," Obama said.
He added: "They represent the very best of our country. They continue to inspire us every day, every moment. They serve as a powerful reminder of the true strength of America."
Obama joined a growing chorus of public officials from both parties condemning Trump's comments. Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Kelly Ayotte all distanced themselves from the Republican nominee over the weekend.
Trump has largely dismissed Khan's rhetorical attacks on him.
The real-estate magnate lashed out at Khan's cable news interviews, and questioned whether his wife, Ghazala, was permitted to speak after she stood beside her husband silently onstage at the DNC.
In a statement released on Saturday, Trump acknowledged that Capt. Humayun Khan was a "hero," but asserted that his father had "no right" to criticize Trump's knowledge of 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.
NOW WATCH: While under fire from GOP, Trump continues to call out the Muslim parents of a slain US soldier