Obama Slams Donald Trump as 'Unfit' for White House, Calls on Republicans to End Support

President Barack Obama offered one of his harshest rebukes of Donald Trump on Tuesday, declaring the Republican nominee "unfit" to serve as president, while criticizing the GOP for its continued support of the New York businessman.

Obama's comments from the White House East Room come amid the ongoing back-and-forth between Trump and the family of a fallen Muslim-American soldier.

"The Republican nominee is unfit to serve as president," Obama said at a White House news conference with the prime minister of Singapore. "He keeps on proving it."

"The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country, the fact that he doesn't appear to have basic knowledge of critical issues in Europe, the Middle East, in Asia, means that he's woefully unprepared to do this job," said Obama.

Obama also struck at the GOP and its leadership for continuing to support Trump, saying its members' occasional criticisms of the candidate "ring hollow."

"The question they have to ask themselves is: If you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him?" asked Obama, while pointing out there are now weekly episodes in which party leaders have to distance themselves from Trump. He added: "There has to be a point at which you say, 'Enough.'"

"What does this say about your party that this is your standard-bearer?" Obama asked of Republican leaders. He added: "This isn't a situation where you have an episodic gaffe. This is daily and weekly where they are distancing themselves from statements he's making. There has to be a point at which you say, 'This is not somebody I can support for president of the United States, even if he purports to be a member of my party.'"

Obama said he doesn't "doubt their sincerity" when Republicans express their outrage over some of the comments Trump has made, especially in recent days, "But there has to come a point in which you say, 'Somebody who makes those kinds of statements doesn't have the judgment, the temperament, the understanding to occupy the most powerful position in the world.'"

After Khizir Khan, who lost his son in a suicide bombing in Iraq, declared at last week's Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia that Trump had "sacrificed nothing," the Republican nominee claimed he'd been "viciously attacked" and questioned why Khan's wife, Ghazala, did not also speak.

On Tuesday, Representative Richard Hanna of New York became the first member of the GOP to publicly declare that he will vote for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton — not Trump — in November.

Senator John McCain of Arizona, who is locked in a battle for his U.S. Senate seat and has also been criticized by Trump over his military service, released a lengthy statement condemning Trump's remarks on Monday but fell short of saying he wouldn't cast a ballot for Trump, nor did he say he would support Clinton.

"In recent days, Donald Trump disparaged a fallen soldier’s parents. He has suggested that the likes of their son should not be allowed in the United States — to say nothing of entering its service," the statement said. "I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump's statement. I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers, or candidates."

In contrast to McCain's statement on Monday, Republican leaders in the House and Senate offered rather tepid statements over the weekend, refusing to call Trump out directly and making no reference to ending their support for his White House run.

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

"Many Muslim Americans have served valiantly in our military, and made the ultimate sacrifice," Ryan said. "Captain Khan was one such brave example. His sacrifice — and that of Khizr and Ghazala Khan — should always be honored. Period."

"Like all Americans I'm grateful for the sacrifices that selfless young men like Capt. Khan and their families have made in the war on terror," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement. "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."

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Commons