Khan 's parents appeared at the 2016 Democratic National Convention , where his father , Khizr Khan , spoke of his dead son and rebuked the Republican presidential nominee , Donald Trump , for his statements about Muslims and his proposed policies concerning them . Trump criticized the appearance of Khan 's parents at the Democratic Convention , and suggested that Khan 's mother may not have been allowed to speak . Trump 's comments about Khan 's mother , Ghazala , sparked widespread condemnation and triggered her response as an op-ed in '' The Washington Post '' . On 31 July 2016 , Ghazala Khan expressed her thoughts and said she had been too overcome by emotion at the convention to speak at the podium . She wrote , " Donald Trump said I had nothing to say . I do . My son Humayun Khan , an Army captain , died 12 years ago in Iraq . He loved America ... " Republican leaders Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have criticized Trump 's comments . A strong rebuke came from US Senator John McCain from Arizona ; the former presidential candidate said that Trump did not represent the ideals of the Republican Party and its leaders . Veterans of Foreign Wars followed with a statement saying , " Election year or not , the VFW will not tolerate anyone berating a Gold Star family member for exercising his or her right of speech or expression . " The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant 's online magazine '' Dabiq '' published a picture of Humayun Khan 's headstone with the caption " Beware of Dying as an apostate . " and urged its followers to " r eject these calls to disunity and come together . "
2016 Democratic National Convention
2016 Democratic National Convention
Humayun Khan (soldier)