Khizr Khan, the father of a slain Muslim Army captain who famously criticized Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention in 2016 by holding up a pocket-sized U.S. Constitution, has announced that he is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Khan believes Trump has “gotten worse” and fears he will become a dictator, threatening American freedoms. He praised Harris for uniting the country and supporting equal dignity and opportunity for all Americans. Khan’s son, Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq in 2004. He believes Trump’s behavior towards veterans and Gold Star families has been disrespectful and accused Trump of exploiting their grief for political gain.
Khan also commented on the recent Republican-led criticism of the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the military withdrawal from Afghanistan, including a bombing in Kabul that killed 13 U.S. service members. Some Gold Star families have publicly criticized Harris and Biden and praised Trump, leading Khan to urge them to reconsider their stance. He emphasized that questioning military decisions is not in the national interest and only benefits adversaries. Khan also condemned Trump for posing with a thumbs up at Arlington National Cemetery and criticized the Trump campaign for using the visit for political purposes.
Vice President Harris has also condemned Trump’s actions at Arlington Cemetery, accusing him of disrespecting sacred ground for political gain. Trump has defended his actions, stating he was asked to take photos with families. The Trump campaign has blamed Harris for the service members’ deaths during the withdrawal, while some families have blamed Biden and Harris. The ongoing disagreements highlight the political divisions and emotions surrounding military actions and the sacrifices of service members and their families.
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