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| Trump allegedly tells soldier's widow: 'He knew what he signed up for' | Trump allegedly tells soldier's widow: 'He knew what he signed up for' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Donald Trump told the widow of a soldier killed in an ambush in Niger that her husband “knew what he signed up for”, according to a Florida congresswoman who says she heard part of the conversation on speakerphone. | Donald Trump told the widow of a soldier killed in an ambush in Niger that her husband “knew what he signed up for”, according to a Florida congresswoman who says she heard part of the conversation on speakerphone. |
| Representative Frederica Wilson said she was in the car with Myeshia Johnson on Tuesday on the way to Miami international airport to receive the body of Johnson’s husband, Sgt La David Johnson, when Trump called. | Representative Frederica Wilson said she was in the car with Myeshia Johnson on Tuesday on the way to Miami international airport to receive the body of Johnson’s husband, Sgt La David Johnson, when Trump called. |
| When asked by Miami station WPLG if she indeed heard Trump say that, Wilson answered: “Yeah, he said that. To me, that is something that you can say in a conversation, but you shouldn’t say that to a grieving widow.” She added: “That’s so insensitive.” | When asked by Miami station WPLG if she indeed heard Trump say that, Wilson answered: “Yeah, he said that. To me, that is something that you can say in a conversation, but you shouldn’t say that to a grieving widow.” She added: “That’s so insensitive.” |
| Trump later claimed on Twitter that her account was false, writing: | Trump later claimed on Twitter that her account was false, writing: |
| Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad! | Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad! |
| Wilson stood by her account, telling CNN on Wednesday that “the president evidently is lying, because what I said is true”. Wilson said she and others in the car with Johnson heard Trump. | |
| Escalating the criticism of the president, Wilson said: “He doesn’t even know how to sympathize with people. We’re grieving. This is a grieving community. ... It’s disgraceful for him to even tweet about this. And as I say, this gentleman has a brain disorder and he needs to be checked out.” | |
| Sgt Johnson was among four servicemen killed in the African country of Niger earlier this month. They died when militants thought to be affiliated with the Islamic State group ambushed them while they were patrolling in unarmored trucks with Nigerien troops. | Sgt Johnson was among four servicemen killed in the African country of Niger earlier this month. They died when militants thought to be affiliated with the Islamic State group ambushed them while they were patrolling in unarmored trucks with Nigerien troops. |
| Wilson, a Democrat, said she did not hear the entire conversation and Myeshia Johnson told her she could not remember everything that was said when asked it about it later. | Wilson, a Democrat, said she did not hear the entire conversation and Myeshia Johnson told her she could not remember everything that was said when asked it about it later. |
| The White House did not immediately comment. | The White House did not immediately comment. |
| Trump has been criticized for not reaching out right away to relatives of the four killed in Niger and for remaining silent about the deaths for 12 days. | |
| On Monday, Trump said he had written letters that had not yet been mailed. His aides said they had been awaiting information before proceeding. | |
| On Tuesday Trump doubled down on his claim that Barack Obama did not routinely call the families of servicemen and women killed in battle, despite furious pushback from allies of the former president, who called it a flat lie. | On Tuesday Trump doubled down on his claim that Barack Obama did not routinely call the families of servicemen and women killed in battle, despite furious pushback from allies of the former president, who called it a flat lie. |
| Trump boasted that “I think I’ve called every family of someone who’s died,” though the Associated Press found relatives of two soldiers who died overseas during Trump’s presidency who said they never received a call or a letter from him, as well as relatives of a third who did not get a call from him. | Trump boasted that “I think I’ve called every family of someone who’s died,” though the Associated Press found relatives of two soldiers who died overseas during Trump’s presidency who said they never received a call or a letter from him, as well as relatives of a third who did not get a call from him. |