Military mom questions Pence on Trump comments
- Read Pence's full statement at the bottom of this story.
Monday night update:
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence was asked about his support of Donald Trump in light of the GOP presidential nominee's comments on a fallen soldier's family at an event Monday night in Nevada.
A woman who said her son serves in the U.S. Air Force asked Pence how he could tolerate Trump's disrespect of military personnel.
The crowd jeered the woman, leading Pence to quiet the crowd and say, "That's what freedom looks like."
He went on to say that Capt. Humayun Khan is "an American hero," and "we cherish his family."
Original story:
Gov. Mike Pence released a statement Sunday night about the death of Captain Humayun Khan, the deceased soldier whose parents spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on Thursday night.
This is the first time Pence has spoken about the topic, having previously deferred questions to Trump's campaign.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Pence said he and Trump both value the sacrifices made by Khan and his 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," the statement says.
Khizr Khan, Humayun's father, spoke out against Trump during an emotional speech, saying Trump had "sacrificed nothing and no one." Trump fired back, saying Khan had "no right" to criticize him and that he had made many sacrifices.
Mike Pence on the trail: The prose and Khans
“I think I've made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard," Trump told ABC's George Stephanopoulos. "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.”
Trump also speculated that Khan's wife, Ghazala, who stood silent beside him as he delivered his remarks, "maybe wasn't allowed to have anything to say."
Humayun Khan was killed by a suicide bomber 12 years ago while serving in Baghdad. In an emotional speech, Khizr Khan said his son, a Muslim, would never have been allowed to live in Donald Trump's America.
"Donald Trump consistently smears the character of Muslims," Khan said. "He disrespects other minorities; women; judges; even his own party leadership."
Pence's statement further clarified the candidates' positions on the issue of Muslim immigration, which has been a divisive topic between the two men. At the time Trump announced his proposed ban, Pence rebuked the proposal on Twitter, calling it "offensive and unconstitutional."
"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 said in the statement.
Ghazala Kahn responded to Trump's remarks in an op-ed for the Washington Post on Sunday.
Trump's statements garnered response from Democrats and Republicans alike.
Military families weigh response to Trump
The Associated Press contributed to this story. Call IndyStar reporter Holly Hays at (317) 444-6156. Follow her on Twitter: @hollyvhays.