He came to national attention in the United States during the 2016 presidential campaign as an example of a Muslim American soldier who died in service to the U.S. military.

During the 2016 Democratic National Convention, his parents stood at the lectern and delivered a speech condemning then-U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump's statements on Muslims.

[3] On 8 June 2004, 120 days[2] into his tour of duty in Iraq,[3] Khan was inspecting a guard post near Baqubah when a suspicious taxicab began approaching quickly.

[3] Khan was also honored by the Virginia General Assembly, which passed a resolution noting "with great sadness the loss of a courageous and patriotic American.

Trump's comments about Khan's mother, Ghazala, sparked widespread condemnation[19][20][21][22][23] and triggered her response as an op-ed in The Washington Post.

A strong rebuke came from US Senator John McCain from Arizona; the former presidential candidate said that Trump did not represent the ideals of the Republican Party and its leaders.

[25] Veterans of Foreign Wars followed with a statement saying, "Election year or not, the VFW will not tolerate anyone berating a Gold Star family member for exercising his or her right of speech or expression.

"[26] The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's online magazine Dabiq published a picture of Humayun Khan's headstone with the caption "Beware of Dying as an apostate" and urged its followers to "[r]eject these calls to disunity and come together.