Donald Trump says he was “viciously attacked” at the Democratic National Convention by Khizr Khan, the father of Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq in 2004, and all he did was respond.
“There’s no greater sacrifice than you lose a son or a daughter in the way that this happened — I understand that,” Mr. Trump said on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” Tuesday. “But regardless, I was viciously attacked, so I think I have the right.”
“Am I supposed to not have the right to at least say something back?” he said.
Mr. Khan and his wife, Ghazala, appeared at the Democrats’ convention last week. Mr. Khan slammed Mr. Trump over his treatment of Muslims and asked if he had ever read the U.S. Constitution.
Mr. Trump later said Capt. Kahn was a “hero,” but that Mr. Khan has no right to stand in front of millions of people and say inaccurate things about him.
Mr. Trump also said Ghazala Khan, who appeared alongside her husband but did not speak, might not have been allowed to have anything to say. Mrs. Khan has since said she was too overcome with grief to speak.
Mr. Trump said the media has been hyping the dustup, which has prompted criticism from people ranging from President Obama to Sen. John McCain.
“But please remember, I was viciously attacked and all I did was respond to it, and it ends up being a four-day story,” Mr. Trump said.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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