Gold Star father Khizr Khan speaks at Duke University
DURHAM, North Carolina (WTVD) -- A Gold Star father and outspoken critic of President Donald Trump says he's still very proud to be an American.
Khizr Khan, who gained prominence at last year's Democratic National Convention, sat down with ABC11 before a scheduled event Thursday at Duke University. Khan's son, Captain Humayan Khan, died in 2004 while serving in Baqubah, Iraq, and was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
"Sometime's it's said that parents teach their children, but in this case, it's the other way around," Khan told ABC11. "[Capt. Humayan] taught us. It's with his grace that we continue to gain strength and we continue to speak. When his time came to be honorable to the oath he took, he stepped forward 10 steps. He accepted his responsibility and his oath to office and protected those he was assigned to protect."
During the heat of the 2016 campaign, Khan criticized the anti-Muslim rhetoric of then-Republican nominee Donald Trump, and held up a Constitution, challenging Trump to read it.
Ahead of Thursday's event, Khan said he wants every American to read the Constitution. He also said he is still critical of Trump, especially his executive orders on immigration and travel.
"Whenever you alienate a community or a group of people, the bad people begin to find room to do their bad deeds within that community."
Still, Khan says he's not as worried about President Trump anymore because the Checks and Balances of American government are working.
"I am a firm believer in rule of law," he said. "The judiciary will step in whenever there is a violation of basic human rights as citizens."
He also cited the failure of the President to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Khan speaks at Duke at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall at the Trent Semans Center for Health Education, 8 Searle Center Drive, off Research Drive.
The event is free and open to the public.
