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\"PHOTO:
J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo
PHOTO: Khizr Khan, father of fallen US Army Capt. Humayun S. M. Khan, and his wife Ghazala speak during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, July 28, 2016.
>

RNC Chair Reince Priebus said on CNN that Gold Star families were \"precious, and they are to be honored and loved and cherished.\" He also said the Khans \"should be off-limits.\"

\"There is just nothing more sacrificial than that, and we believe that and we know that and I believe that Donald Trump and Mike Pence also know, and understand that,\" he said.

\"That’s why I think that we just, we don't go there and I don't go there.”

The families of 11 fallen service members have demanded an apology for \"repugnant\" and \"personally offensive\" remarks made by Trump, in a letter published by VoteVets Action Fund, the progressive advocacy wing of the political action committee for VoteVets.org.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan praised the sacrifices made by the Khan family, in statements made over the weekend. Without naming Trump, they implied that his criticism of the Khan family and his proposal to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the U.S. ran contrary to American values.

\"All Americans should value the patriotic service of the patriots who volunteer to selflessly defend us in the armed services. And as I have long made clear, I agree with the Khans and families across the country that a travel ban on all members of a religion is simply contrary to American values,\" McConnell wrote.

In a similar statement, Ryan said, \"America's greatness is built on the principles of liberty and preserved by the men and women who wear the uniform to defend it. As I have said on numerous occasions, a religious test for entering our country is not reflective of these fundamental values. I reject it.\"

Ghazala Khan told CNN this morning, \"I'm so happy to be saying that I'm a Muslim woman. I'm very glad to be in this country.\"

\"Someone has to pay a price for this freedom that we have,\" she added about her son's service.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with the correct spelling of Humayun Khan's name.

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