PREACH

Khizr Khan to Trump: Earn Our Respect

“He has to earn the position of the presidency” despite win.

Khizr Khan, the father of slain Muslim-American U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, had some advice for Donald Trump on Thursday. Khan, who has been outspoken about his contempt for Trump throughout the presidential race, said the president-elect would have to “earn” his position in the White House despite his recent victory. Khan responded gracefully to Trump’s win, despite his strong words against the Republican nominee and very public spat with Trump during the campaign. Asked by CNN’s Anderson Cooper whether he considers Trump his president, Khan said, “He is still president-elect.” He added, however, that Trump “has to earn our respect, he has to earn the position of the presidency.” The nationwide protests against Trump’s win are “indicative of how many people have been intimidated, how many people feel that their rights have not been fully guaranteed,” Khan said. Already, he said, there were signs that a Trump presidency will be dangerous. “Muslims are being intimidated by Donald Trump’s supporters,” he said, describing people “snatching headscarves” from Muslim women and vandalizing mosques after Trump’s victory. “That needs to stop,” he said.