Eric Trump Says Father Apologized to Khans (But He Hasn’t)
Eric Trump defended his father Tuesday from criticism for his treatment of the family of a slain Muslim US soldier and said that he had already apologized to the Khans and Gold Star families — despite the fact that the senior Trump has pointedly declined to apologize.
Appearing on “CBS This Morning,” Trump was pressed about his father’s lack of apology for his criticism of the Khan family, even amid stinging bipartisan condemnation for his remarks.
The senior Trump has so far not apologized for his remarks toward the Khans, despite Eric Trump’s claim.
“Would your father be willing to apologize and move on?” co-host Norah O’Donnell asked.
“I think that’s a great question for him, and I think he has by calling them a hero,” Trump responded.
“In terms of the one question — whether you’ve made a sacrifice — I think my father has. Now, that’s certainly not the ultimate sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice is a soldier dying for this nation, dying to protect the three of us, no doubt about it –”
Co-host Gayle King interjected, “Is it difficult for your father to apologize?”
“My father’s a fighter,” Trump said. “I think that’s what this country needs is a fighter. And I think he was attacked the other day — he was attacked viciously — and by the way, that’s politics. You’re going to get attacked.”
Co-host Charlie Rose pivoted, asking instead: “Who tells your father he’s wrong?”
“We can tell him he’s wrong,” Trump laughed.
“When’s the last time you told him he’s wrong?” Rose pressed.
Trump replied, “Listen, we do it respectfully, we go back and forth as a family. I think that’s actually the benefit of having children be part of this process.”
King tried again to push Trump on the Khans: “Do you think he’s wrong on this?”
“I think this is something that’s honestly blown hugely out of proportion,” Trump countered, proceeding to argue that Donald Trump had praised the family as “amazing people” and that his focus was ultimately on security issues and dealing with illegal immigration and Syrian refugees.
(h/t CNN)
Reality
It appears the apple does not fall far from the tree when it comes to facts.
Eric Trump also made several other false statements:
- That French priest Jacques Hamel was beheaded, when he was actually stabbed in the throat.
- Said that Donald Trump was against the Iraq war before the invasion, which was debunked months ago.
- Said that Donald Trump was against interventions in Libya, but we have a 2011 video of Donald Trump pushing for Libyan intervention.
Along with fact-checking, here is why this incident is concerning and adds to the growing evidence that Donald Trump is not fit for the office of the Presidency. Eric Trump called his father a “fighter” and Donald Trump in the past has defended his actions as “counter-punching,” but the Republican presidential nominee’s very first reaction to the valid criticism of his sacrifice and his knowledge of the United States Constitution was to “counter-punch” a grieving mother of a dead American soldier who stood on a stage and said nothing. Think about that.
The person who takes the oath of office and occupies the White House should not be someone who picks a fight at every opportunity as sees every criticism as a “vicious attack.” Instead, as history has shown, a degree of “presidential restraint” is required to be a Commander-in-Chief, which is something Donald Trump has yet to show it is something he is capable of.
Take for instance President Harry Truman’s refusal to order the use of atomic weapons during the Korean War. Its impact has been as permanent as it has been under appreciated, for the effect of Truman’s rejection of the bomb was to establish a taboo against nuclear use that has lasted all these years.
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