NEW YORK — Eric Trump defended his father Tuesday from criticism for his treatment of the family of a slain Muslim US solider 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 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.
