Gold Star families are those that lost an immediately family member in the line of military duty. When one such family spoke at the Democratic National Convention, Trump suggested that the fallen soldier’s mother was not allowed to speak freely by her husband because they are Muslim.

Trump also suggested that Clinton’s campaign was supplying the family with talking points, saying,” “Who wrote that? Did Hillary’s scriptwriters write it?”

In response, 17 Gold Star families signed an open letter to Trump, which explained, “When you question a mother’s pain, by implying that her religion, not her grief, kept her from addressing an arena of people, you are attacking us. When you say your job building buildings is akin to our sacrifice, you are attacking our sacrifice.”

Trump explained in his defense that, “I think I’ve made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard.”

Trump has had a checkered past on dealing with service members and their families. Trump later also brought a pregnant Gold Star widow to tears when he forgot the name of her husband. In another instance, Trump sent a $25,000 personal check to a grieving family, though it was after news reports noted its delay from when it was originally promised. He also infamously said John McCain was not a war hero because he was captured, and referred to dodging STDs as his own “personal Vietnam,” while having dodged the draft five times.

USO – What is a Gold Star Family?
The Washington Post – Trump stirs outrage after he lashes out at the Muslim parents of a dead U.S. soldier
The New York Times – Donald Trump Criticizes Muslim Family of Slain U.S. Soldier, Drawing Ire
ABC News – Donald Trump to Father of Fallen Soldier: ‘I’ve Made a Lot of Sacrifices’
Wikipedia – Khizr and Ghazala Khan