Pence: Fallen Muslim soldier's family 'should be cherished'

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says he and Donald Trump believe a Muslim family the Republican presidential nominee has criticized "should be cherished by every American."

The GOP vice presidential candidate released a statement Sunday though Trump's campaign about Trump's emotionally charged feud with Khizr and Ghazala Khan. Their son was a decorated Muslim Army captain who was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004.

Pence called their son a hero who "gave his life to defend our country in the global war on terror."

Khizr Khan spoke during last week's Democratic convention, criticizing Trump's threats to ban Muslims from entering the United States if he becomes president.

Trump has implied that Ghazala Khan did not speak while standing alongside her husband at the convention because they are Muslim.