On Sunday morning, Khizr Khan, father of Humyun Khan, a Muslim U.S. Army Captain who was killed in Iraq while heroically protecting his unit, went on CNN to respond to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump attacking his wife. Directing his remarks to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Khizr implored them to rescind their support for Trump.
The Republican leaders have a “moral, ethical obligation to not worry about the votes but repudiate [Trump], withdraw the support,” Khan said.
But both leaders have already signaled they have no intention of dumping Trump at this time. In statements released Sunday, neither even mentions Trump’s name, though both take indirect swipes at the sort of anti-Muslim fearmongering Trump has made a centerpiece of his campaign.
Here’s McConnell’s entire statement:
Captain Khan was an American hero, and like all Americans I’m grateful for the sacrifices that selfless young men like Capt. Khan and their families have made in the war on terror. All Americans should value the patriotic service of the patriots who volunteer to selflessly defend us in the armed services. And as I have long made clear, I agree with the Khans and families across the country that a travel ban on all members of a religion is simply contrary to American values.
And here’s Ryan’s:
A religious test for entering our country is not reflective of America's fundamental values. I reject it. pic.twitter.com/DdsYj2XoLS
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) July 31, 2016
A year after his status as an American war hero was called into question by Trump, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) released a statement that at least criticizes Trump by name. But like McConnell and Ryan, McCain apparently isn’t willing to rescind his support for his party’s presidential nominee (click to enlarge the text in the tweet):
New John McCain stmt. on the Khans: "I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump’s statement." pic.twitter.com/t9wiehkYqI
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) August 1, 2016
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) criticized Republican leadership for standing by Trump, tweeting that “anything short of Senator McConnell and Speaker Ryan revoking their endorsements of Donald Trump is cowardice.”
In a statement, Reid added that “Senator McConnell and Speaker Ryan approvingly spoke at Donald Trump’s convention, endorsed Donald Trump for president and believe he is mentally fit to sit in the Oval Office. Occasional statements that do nothing to repudiate Donald Trump’s words and actions are spineless.”
“This shouldn’t be hard,” Reid continued. “Donald Trump is a sexist and racist man who insults Gold Star parents, stokes fear of Muslims and sows hatred of Latinos. He should not be president and Republican leaders have a moral responsibility to say so.”