During the presidential race, Khizr Khan, a Muslim American Gold Star father, entered the national spotlight. Khan’s son was killed in combat 12 years ago. He spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and called out Donald Trump, leading to criticism from the Republican nominee. In the aftermath of Trump’s stunning presidential win, Khan spoke with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk…
The Gold Star father who entered the national spotlight when he offered then-presidential hopeful Donald Trump a copy of his Constitution during an emotional speech at the Democratic National Convention says he is not happy with Trump's election but hoping for unity moving forward.
"That was not what we were expecting but this is the time to move forward and begin to give hope to those who are distraught, who are disappointed," said Khizr Khan.
Khan first gained national attention from the podium of the DNC in Philadelphia when he paid homage to his son, Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who died in Iraq in 2004. Khan held up his pocket-sized Constitution and said Trump has sacrificed "nothing."
Republican Trump fired back with a familiar refrain, saying that Khan's son, who died trying to protect his unit from a suicide bomber, would still be alive had Trump been president in 2004 instead of Republican George W. Bush. The incident set up an almost unprecedented episode in which a presidential nominee criticized a military family that lost a loved one in a war zone.
Khan campaigned for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as he continued to speak out against Trump through the fall.
Khan told NBC10's Lauren Mayk Wednesday that he and his wife would do it all over again if given the opportunity.
"Whenever you see that your values, that the values of this country are being challenged it's an obligation of all citizens, all patriots regardless of the party affiliation, to stand up and be counted and remind each other that we have much better values.
Khan said he hopes American can move forward and that Trump could lead a unified country.
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"This nation needs to move forward and move forward together, not divided," said Khan. "That is his responsibility now to bring us all together and moves us all forward without division."
