A Gold Star father who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation's highest civilian honor — slammed former President Donald Trump over his comments that the civilian honor is better than the Medal of Honor — the nation's highest military award — because the later is often given to soldiers wounded or killed in combat.
“I watched Sheldon sitting so proud in the White House when we gave Miriam the Presidential Medal of Freedom," Trump said. "That’s the highest award you can get as a civilian, it’s the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor."
He added: "But civilian version, it’s actually much better because everyone [who] gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they're soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets or they’re dead. She gets it, and she’s a healthy, beautiful woman, and they’re rated equal, but she got the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and she got it for — and that’s through committees and everything else.”
Khizr Khan, father of fallen Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq saving the lives of his fellow soldiers, spoke with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins on Friday night and rebuked Trump's comments.
"I was saddened and appalled. That's typical Trump — hate and division. These awards are acknowledgment of a grateful nation, of the service of the recipient. And to create a division and a comparison, each award has its own significance and we must honor the recipients equally," he said.
Khan said that is "beyond Trump," who must "create controversy and divide and create hate."
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Khan added he was "not surprised."
"He was being himself," said Khan. "He has inherent contempt of men and women serving in uniform and those who have served."
Khan pointed to an instance in 2018 in Paris on the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, in which Trump called troops "suckers and losers."
And on Memorial Day in 2017, during a visit to Arlington National Cemetary, Khan pointed to Trump asking his chief of staff what's in it for the soldiers.
John Kelly, the longest-serving White House chief of staff, confirmed reporting that Trump turning to him that day as they stood among those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?”
Khan, whose son is also buried in that section, said Trump has "no comprehension what sacrifice and service to country means."
"Time after time he has proven he has no capacity or capability — he is nothing but ego and appetite. Everywhere you see him speak, that is what is on display," said Khan.
Watch the clip below or at this link.
