--- title: How Donald Trump Took the Bait description: It was an obvious trap when Gold Star father Khizr Khan gave a moving speech about his son, but "counterpuncher" Donald Trump, attacked. canonical: https://time.com/4432770/how-donald-trump-took-the-bait/ author: Zeke Miller article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-08-01T14:44:06.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-06T09:44:58.956Z article:section: Politics og:title: How Donald Trump Took the Bait og:description: It was an obvious trap when Gold Star father Khizr Khan gave a moving speech about his son, but "counterpuncher" Donald Trump, attacked. og:url: https://time.com/4432770/how-donald-trump-took-the-bait/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb24c27fcf0ec0da8/6986837dcd6848a30809364f/morning-must-reads1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: Morning Must Reads og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How Donald Trump Took the Bait twitter:description: It was an obvious trap when Gold Star father Khizr Khan gave a moving speech about his son, but "counterpuncher" Donald Trump, attacked. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb24c27fcf0ec0da8/6986837dcd6848a30809364f/morning-must-reads1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How Donald Trump Took the Bait > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=844d9a06-8c6a-4002-9db0-faf2132eb6a3&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Weekdays | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Weekly | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Twice a week | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=844d9a06-8c6a-4002-9db0-faf2132eb6a3&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=844d9a06-8c6a-4002-9db0-faf2132eb6a3&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (health, weekdays), Worth Your Time (culture, weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, twice weekly), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=844d9a06-8c6a-4002-9db0-faf2132eb6a3&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Father of Fallen Muslim Soldier: Donald Trump’s Response Is ‘Typical of a Person Without a Soul’ [Watch (HLS stream): Father of Fallen Muslim Soldier: Donald Trump’s Response Is ‘Typical of a Person Without a Soul’](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/jLMWPsGW.m3u8) (0:49)  _Published 2016-07-31. The father of a fallen Muslim Army captain who slammed Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention last week said the Republican presidential nominee’s response to his emotional speech was “typical of a person without a soul.”_ by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Aug 1, 2016 2:44 PM UTC by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Aug 1, 2016 2:44 PM UTC **_If you only read one thing:_** _It was an obvious trap, but “counterpuncher” Donald Trump couldn’t help but take the bait. The moving speech by Gold Star father Khizr Khan about his fallen son, Capt. Humayun Khan instantly became one of the most memorable moments of the Democratic National Convention, as the grieving father called his son the “best of America” and criticized Trump for trying to keep Muslims like him out of the country, his wife standing just alongside. Trump couldn’t resist his impulse to fight back, swiping at the parents of a fallen soldier in personal terms. Suggesting that Ghazala Khan “wasn’t allowed to have anything to say” because of their faith, Trump was either callous toward a parent who said after that she can hardly be in the same room as photos of her dead son, or was dog-whistling toward those with anti-Muslim prejudice. Trump defended his outburst by arguing that Khan made himself a target by delivering a political speech at the DNC, which he certainly did. But what Trump missed was that it’s never a good move politically, and perhaps morally, to attack those who’ve made that sacrifice. In a statement late Saturday, Trump argued Khan had no right to attack him or to suggest he’d never read the Constitution—seemingly neglecting the First Amendment which provides just that right. Trump briefly tried to clean up his comments, by arguing that the true issue of the campaign was not the Khans, but rather radical Islamic terror. But it was too little, too late. Republicans have spent the last three days backing away from Trump’s comments, yet again, as a familiar playbook of condemnation and distancing plays itself out once again._ Trump is also facing new questions about his foreign policy knowledge after seeming confused in an interview with ABC about Russia’s annexation of Crimea and operations in Eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, his top campaign aide, Paul Manafort, is under scrutiny for his ties to Ukraine’s former leader. Hillary Clinton wrapped up a two-day bus-tour through Pennsylvania and Ohio with her new running mate as she looks to secure her position in the state’s critical to a potential Trump win and full of the white working-class voters she is struggling to appeal to. The Kochs are sitting out the presidential race. The campaigns are set to begin receiving intelligence briefings. And there are — count ’em — 99 days until Election Day. _Here are your must reads:_ **Must Reads** [Charles Koch Says Suggestion He Backs Hillary Clinton Is ‘Blood Libel’ ](http://time.com/4432409/charles-koch-hillary-clinton-blood-libel/)“At this point, I can’t support either candidate,” he says \[TIME\] [Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Campaigns Invited to White House Transition Meetings ](http://time.com/4431651/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-campaign-intelligence-briefings/)The campaigns were also invited to receive intelligence briefings \[TIME\] [How Paul Manafort Wielded Power in Ukraine Before Advising Donald Trump ](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/01/us/paul-manafort-ukraine-donald-trump.html?em%5Fpos=medium&emc=edit%5Fcn%5F20160801&nl=first-draft&nl%5Fart=2&nlid=55003713&ref=headline&te=1)Trump’s campaign boss in the spotlight \[New York Times\] [Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump Spar Over Putin ](http://www.wsj.com/articles/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-spar-over-putin-1469986499)Democratic presidential nominee says DNC hack raises serious issues about Russian interference \[Wall Street Journal\] [Donald Trump to Father of Fallen Soldier: ‘I’ve Made a Lot of Sacrifices’ ](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-father-fallen-soldier-ive-made-lot/story?id=41015051)Trump takes the bait. **Sound Off** “If you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.” — Donald Trump to ABC on Ghazala Khan “He is a black soul, and this is totally unfit for the leadership of this country.” — Khizr Khan on CNN Sunday **Bits and Bites** [McCain slams Trump over Khan fight](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/mccain-statement-226495) \[Politico\] [How Scott Walker Responds to Donald Trump’s Feud With Slain Soldier’s Father](http://time.com/4432513/donald-trump-khan-scott-walker/) \[TIME\] [Obama to Leave the White House a Nerdier Place Than He Found It](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/01/us/politics/obama-to-leave-the-white-house-a-nerdier-place-than-he-found-it.html?em%5Fpos=small&emc=edit%5Fcn%5F20160801&nl=first-draft&nl%5Fart=12&nlid=55003713&ref=headline&te=1) \[New York Times\] [Hillary Clinton Hunts an Elusive Prey: White Male Voters](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/02/us/politics/hillary-clinton-white-male-voters.html?em%5Fpos=medium&emc=edit%5Fcn%5F20160801&nl=first-draft&nl%5Fart=1&nlid=55003713&ref=headline&te=1&%5Fr=0) \[New York Times\] [Trump is the first modern Republican to win the nomination based on racial prejudice](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/08/01/trump-is-the-first-republican-in-modern-times-to-win-the-partys-nomination-on-anti-minority-sentiments/) \[Washington Post\] [Trump Says He Turned Down Koch Invite. Koch Aides Dispute He Got One.](http://time.com/4432073/koch-brothers-donald-trump-invite/) \[TIME\] [Debate commission to Trump: The dates are set](http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/07/commission-on-presidential-debates-responds-to-donald-trump-226484) \[Politico\] ## Transcript He is a black soul and this is totally unfit for the leadership of this beautiful country. [ MUSIC ] Two things are absolutely necessary in any leader. Or any person that aspires, wishes to be a leader, that is moral compass. And second is empathy. This candidate Is wide of both traits that are necessary for this stewardship of this country. His policies, his practices do not reflect that he has any understanding of the basic fundamental constitutional principles of this country. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4432770/how-donald-trump-took-the-bait/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4432770/how-donald-trump-took-the-bait/"},"headline":"How Donald Trump Took the Bait","datePublished":"2016-08-01T14:44:06.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-06T09:44:58.956Z","description":"Morning Must Reads: August 1","url":"https://time.com/4432770/how-donald-trump-took-the-bait/","keywords":["Morning Must Reads"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb24c27fcf0ec0da8/6986837dcd6848a30809364f/morning-must-reads1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Zeke Miller","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb24c27fcf0ec0da8/6986837dcd6848a30809364f/morning-must-reads1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Morning Must Reads","caption":"Capitol","creditText":"Mark Wilson—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4432770/how-donald-trump-took-the-bait/","name":"How Donald Trump Took the Bait"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Father of Fallen Muslim Soldier: Donald Trump’s Response Is ‘Typical of a Person Without a Soul’","description":"The father of a fallen Muslim Army captain who slammed Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention last week said the Republican presidential nominee’s response to his emotional speech was “typical of a person without a soul.”","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/jLMWPsGW/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-07-31T16:43:05.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/jLMWPsGW.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4432770/how-donald-trump-took-the-bait/","duration":"PT49S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4432770/how-donald-trump-took-the-bait/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```