McCain said Trump's comments do not symbolize the Republican Party.
John McCain has slammed Donald Trump and his comments made at the parents of a fallen Muslim soldier following their DNC appearance.
McCain, a Vietnam vet and former prisoner of war, released a statement Monday morning saying that Trump’s comments do not mirror the ideals of the Republican Party.
“While our party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us,” McCain said.
Read: Donald Trump Faces Backlash, Ridicule for His Response to Fallen Muslim Soldier's Parents
The Arizona senator added: “In recent days, Donald Trump disparaged a fallen soldier’s parents. He has suggested that the likes of their son should not be allowed in the United States — to say nothing of entering its service. I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump’s statement. I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers or candidates.”
On Thursday at the DNC, Khizr Khan said that Trump has “sacrificed nothing and no one.” The father lost his 27-year-old Army Captain Humayun Khan, in a 2004 suicide blast in Iraq.
In an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, the GOP presidential candidate said: “I think I've made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard."
When pressed by the interviewer about his sacrifices, the real estate mogul said: "I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures. I've had tremendous success. I think I've done a lot."
In his statement Monday, McCain said: “I claim no moral superiority over Donald Trump. I have a long and well-known public and private record for which I will have to answer at the Final Judgment, and I repose my hope in the promise of mercy and the moderation of age. I challenge the nominee to set the example for what our country can and should represent.”
It's not the first example of bad blood between Trump and McCain. Last year, McCain said that he believed Trump had "fired up the crazies" during a campaign rally in McCain's home state of Arizona.
Later, Trump ignited controversy after saying during an interview that McCain is considered a "war hero" only because he was taken captive. McCain was held for more than five years during the Vietnam War.
"I like people that weren't captured, OK?" Trump sniped when asked about the 2008 GOP presidential nominee.
Trump also questioned Khan’s wife, Ghazala, about not speaking at the DNC and standing silent next to her husband. Trump told Stephanopoulos that he believed it was because of their faith the mother "wasn’t allowed to have anything to say."
On Sunday, the anguished mother wrote in a Washington Post editorial: "Without saying a thing, all the world, all America, felt my pain. I am a Gold Star mother. Whoever saw me felt me in their heart."
She added: “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, where we moved when he was 2 years old. He had volunteered to help his country, signing up for the ROTC at the University of Virginia. This was before the attack of Sept. 11, 2001. He didn’t have to do this, but he wanted to.”
Throughout the weekend, the billionaire took to his favorite social media platform to defend his comments.
Captain Khan, killed 12 years ago, was a hero, but this is about RADICAL ISLAMIC TERROR and the weakness of our "leaders" to eradicate it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2016
I was viciously attacked by Mr. Khan at the Democratic Convention. Am I not allowed to respond? Hillary voted for the Iraq war, not me!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2016
Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over T.V. doing the same - Nice!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2016
This story is not about Mr. Khan, who is all over the place doing interviews, but rather RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM and the U.S. Get smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2016
The Khans, who live in Charlottesville, Virginia, emigrated from the United Arab Emirates to Boston in 1980 when their son was 2. Humayun enrolled in the ROTC program while a student at University of Virginia where he graduated with a psychology degree before being deployed to Iraq.
Read: Dad of Fallen Muslim Soldier Asks Trump: Want to Borrow My Copy of the American Constitution?
Captain Khan was doing a routine check at the gates of an Army gate in Baqubah, Iraq, in June 2004 when a car rigged with explosives approached and detonated.
The captain, who signaled for the vehicle to stop and ordered other soldiers nearby to stay back, is credited with saving the lives of his comrades around the camp.
Captain Khan was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Watch: Poised Chelsea Clinton Praises Hillary: 'I'm So Grateful To Be Her Daughter'
