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Trump says 'I’ve made a lot of sacrifices' in response to Muslim father of slain US soldier

The Republican nominee has responded to Khizr Khan, who delivered a moving speech at the Democratic convention about his son's death in Iraq.
Photo by Anthony Behar/AP

Donald Trump has responded to Khizr Khan, the Muslim lawyer who delivered a moving speech on Thursday at the Democratic convention that ripped the Republican nominee.

Khan's son, Humayun, was killed in action while serving as an Army captain in Iraq in 2004. He was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Speaking before Hillary Clinton at the Democratic convention with his wife Ghazala standing by his side, Khan talked about being a patriotic American and a Muslim, and about his son's love for his country and heroism.

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Then, he turned his focus to Trump.

"You have sacrificed nothing," Khan said. He then pulled a battered copy of the Constitution from his pocket, a document the 66-year-old immigration attorney apparently carries with him regularly, and asked Trump if he had ever read the text. The impassioned and eloquent seven-minute speech — which Khan said he delivered without using a teleprompter — brought some members of the crowd in Philadelphia to tears.

In an interview with ABC News on Saturday, Trump brashly shrugged off Khan's remarks, suggesting that Khan did not allow his wife to speak at the DNC.

"If you look at his wife, she was standing there," Trump said. "She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe, she wasn't allowed to have anything to say. You tell me."

Trump also insisted that he has "made a lot of sacrifices."

"I've created thousands of jobs," he said.

Trump's reply to Khizr & Ghazala Khan, whose son died in Iraq: "I've made a lot of sacrifices" (via @ThisWeekABC)https://t.co/krzu9nYiDK
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) July 30, 2016

His claim gave rise to the hashtag #TrumpSacrifices, which Twitter users have mainly used to take aim at Trump's appearance and privileged upbringing. Paul Begala, a CNN commentator and advisor to a pro-Clinton Super PAC, wrote "Once survived an entire weekend at Mar-a-Lago with just one can of hairspray."

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Asked about Khan's speech in an interview with Maureen Daowd of the New York Times on Saturday, Trump again pointed to the fact that Ghazala Khan remained silent while her husband addressed the DNC. "I'd like to hear his wife say something," Trump said.

Related: Trump vows to intensify attacks on Clinton: 'No more Mr. Nice Guy'

During an emotional interview with MSNBC on Saturday, Ghazala Khan said she didn't speak at the DNC because she continues to be overwhelmed with grief caused by her son's death. Khizr Khan also spoke about why he needed to have his wife at his side during the speech.

"Her being there was the strength that I could hold my composure," he said. "I am much weaker than she is in such matters."

Follow Tess Owen on Twitter: @misstessowen