"Donald Trump will support our military and their families, and we will defeat the enemies of our freedom," Pence said. | AP Photo Pence: 'Captain Humayun Khan is an American hero'

GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence tried Sunday to pat down the flame that has been burning between Donald Trump and the Khan family.

"Donald Trump and I believe that Captain Humayun Khan is an American hero and his family, like all Gold Star families, should be cherished by every American," the Indiana governor said in a statement."Captain Khan gave his life to defend our country in the global war on terror."


Since Khizr Khan, father of the deceased Muslim American Army captain, spoke out against the GOP nominee at the Democratic convention on Thursday for his stance on Muslims immigration, Trump has fired back. making claims that Khan's wife, Ghazala, stood idly by and was requested not to speak.

Trump also said Khizr Khan had "no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim that I have never read the Constitution, which is false, and say many other inaccurate things."

Trump's response to Khizr Khan's speech and the interviews that have since followed, has also spurred reactions from his competitor Hillary Clinton and from GOP leaders. Trump has been condemned in various quarters for needlessly insulting the family of a military hero.

Echoing sentiments made by a Trump adviser on CNN on Sunday, Pence tried to bring the discussion back to ISIL and destabilization in the Middle East, which he said was due to disastrous decisions made by President Barack Obama and Clinton.

"This must not stand. By suspending immigration from countries that have been compromised by terrorism, rebuilding our military, defeating ISIS at its source and projecting strength on the global stage, we will reduce the likelihood that other American families will face the enduring heartbreak of the Khan family," Pence said in the statement.

"Donald Trump will support our military and their families, and we will defeat the enemies of our freedom."