Rudy Giuliani, GOP Leaders Plot Donald Trump Intervention

Key Republican leaders close to the Donald Trump campaign are reportedly planning an intervention with the presidential nominee.

According to NBC News, Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are among those hoping to talk Trump into a dramatic reset of his campaign.

The reports follow a bad few weeks for the candidate following his official nomination at the Republican National Convention last month. In addition to a highly public feud with the parents of an Muslim U.S. soldier killed in Iraq, Trump has also recently clashed with Paul Ryan and John McCain, refusing to endorse them both in their re-election efforts.

Also Read: GOP Officials Think Donald Trump Might Drop Out of Election

Even the customary news cycle fuel of nude photos of Trump’s wife Melania, leaked over the weekend, failed to shift attention from the nominee’s recent missteps.

GOP leaders have also reportedly been exploring their options in the event Trump were to withdraw himself from the race ahead of the election in November.

Trump’s campaign manager Paul Manafort denied talk of an intervention during an interview with Fox News. “The only need we have for an intervention is with some media types who keep saying things that aren’t true,” he said. “The candidate’s in control of his own campaign.

Donald Trump vs The Khans: A Timeline (Photos)

Here's a timeline of Donald Trump's fight with Muslim-American immigrants Khizr and Ghazala Khan, who have criticized his proposal to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the United States.
Getty Images/NBC
July 28--Convention speech

Khizr Khan appears at the Democratic National Convention with his wife Ghazala. The Pakistani immigrants criticized Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric and invoked the name of their son Humayun Khan -- who sacrificed himself in Iraq in 2004 to save his unit. Khizr Khan said Trump has "sacrificed nothing" and offered Trump his personal copy of the U.S. Constitution.

Also Read: Muslim Soldier’s Parents Slam Donald Trump’s Diss of DNC Speech: ‘Shame on Him’
CNN
July 30--Trump responds

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos, Trump implied that Ghazala Khan did not speak at the convention because her husband would not allow it. He also said that he had made sacrifices, namely building his business empire and creating "thousands of jobs."

Also Read: John Oliver Blasts Donald Trump as ‘Sociopathic Narcissist’ for Response to Khan Family
ABC News
July 31--Ghazala Speaks Out

Ghazala Khan published an op-ed in the Washington Post saying she declined to speak at the convention because she was overwhelmed with emotion at the memory of her son's death. "Donald Trump said he has made a lot of sacrifices. He doesn’t know what the word sacrifice means," she wrote.

Also Read: Ghazala Khan Fires Back at Donald Trump: ‘My Culture Never Stopped Me Saying Whatever I Want to Say’
NBC News
July 31--Trump Goes on the Defensive

Trump tried to shift focus from himself and back to the issue of "radical Islamic terror," but was widely criticized for his apparent attack on parents of the fallen soldier.

Also Read: ‘The Simpsons’ Derides Donald Trump, Theorizes Dog Toupée
Twitter
July 31--Mike Pence Statement

Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, issued a statement in Trump's defense that read in part, "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."

Also Read: Nick Nolte Tells Us Why He’s Not Voting for Clinton or Trump in the 2016 Election
Getty Images
Aug. 1--The Feud Continues

Khizr Khan made the interview rounds, criticizing Trump for his statements against his family and Muslims in general. Trump responded with more tweets, one of which read, "Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over T.V. doing the same - Nice!"

Also Read: Melania Trump Bares All on the Cover of NY Post
Getty Images
Aug. 1--John McCain Steps In

Arizona Senator and Vietnam veteran John McCain slammed Trump and defended the Khans in a statement. "While our party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us," he said.

Also Read: John McCain Blasts Donald Trump’s Comments Over Fallen Muslim U.S. War Hero
Getty Images

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How the Republican candidate came to criticize parents of fallen Muslim-American soldier

Here's a timeline of Donald Trump's fight with Muslim-American immigrants Khizr and Ghazala Khan, who have criticized his proposal to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the United States.

View In Gallery

Donald Trump vs The Khans: A Timeline (Photos)

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