ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez – the nation’s only Latina governor and the chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association – is joining a chorus of Republican lawmakers in disavowing Donald Trump’s repeated criticisms of a bereaved military family.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez on Monday called Army Capt. Humayun Khan an American hero while distanced herself from Trump, the GOP presidential nominee who she has not endorsed.
Khan was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004.
“Captain Khan is an American hero – period,” Martinez said in a statement to The Associated Press. “He laid down his life for his country and left behind two grieving parents who have every right to voice their opinions in the political process. Disparaging them is absolutely wrong and completely uncalled for.”
Trump broke a political and societal taboo over the weekend when he criticized Khizr and Ghazala Khan. Khizr Khan sharply criticized Trump during the Democratic National Convention.
Martinez previously denounced Trump for comments made about Mexican immigrants.
Trump harshly criticized Martinez over food stamps and unemployment numbers during an Albuquerque rally that turned violent in May.
He also falsely claimed Martinez was allowing Syrian refugees to settle in New Mexico.
Trump later said he wanted an endorsement from Martinez.
