This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/onald-trump-us-soldier-widow-sick-man-frederica-wilson-myesha-johnson-a8006916.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Donald Trump labelled a 'sick man' after denying he told US soldier's grieving widow 'he knew what he was signing up for' | Donald Trump labelled a 'sick man' after denying he told US soldier's grieving widow 'he knew what he was signing up for' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Donald Trump has been labelled a "sick man" after he accused a congresswoman of fabricating details of an allegedly insensitive telephone call he had with the widow of a US soldier recently killed in action. | Donald Trump has been labelled a "sick man" after he accused a congresswoman of fabricating details of an allegedly insensitive telephone call he had with the widow of a US soldier recently killed in action. |
| Amid a controversy Mr Trump himself had started by claiming he was rare among presidents in calling or writing to the relatives of troops who had lost their lives, the President was accused of being insensitive when he telephoned the widow of one of the US soldiers recently killed in Niger. | Amid a controversy Mr Trump himself had started by claiming he was rare among presidents in calling or writing to the relatives of troops who had lost their lives, the President was accused of being insensitive when he telephoned the widow of one of the US soldiers recently killed in Niger. |
| Lance Sergeant David Johnson was among four Green Berets killed when their patrol was ambushed by Islamist militants. Mr Trump called his widow, Myesha Johnson, who was traveling with her family to meet her husband’s casket at Miami International Airport. | Lance Sergeant David Johnson was among four Green Berets killed when their patrol was ambushed by Islamist militants. Mr Trump called his widow, Myesha Johnson, who was traveling with her family to meet her husband’s casket at Miami International Airport. |
| Democratic Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who was accompanying the family, told CNN during the the five-minute conversation, Mr Trump had showed little tact or diplomacy required for such a situation. | Democratic Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who was accompanying the family, told CNN during the the five-minute conversation, Mr Trump had showed little tact or diplomacy required for such a situation. |
| “Basically he said, ‘Well I guess he knew what he signed up for, but I guess it still hurts’,” said Ms Wilson. | “Basically he said, ‘Well I guess he knew what he signed up for, but I guess it still hurts’,” said Ms Wilson. |
| “I heard what he said because the phone was on speaker.” | “I heard what he said because the phone was on speaker.” |
| On Wednesday morning, Mr Trump hit back at the allegations. “Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad,” he wrote on Twitter. | On Wednesday morning, Mr Trump hit back at the allegations. “Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad,” he wrote on Twitter. |
| He did not provide details of what proof he claimed to have. | |
| Many commentators were reminded of the time Mr Trump suggested he had a recording of a conversation with then FBI Director James Comey, shortly before he he fired him. It transpired there was no such recording. | |
| Ms Wilson, who represents Florida’ 24th district, has stuck by her remarks. Speaking to CNN said: “I don’t know what kind of proof he could be talking about. I’m not the only person who was in the car,” | |
| She added: “This man is a sick man. He is cold-hearted. He feels no pity or sympathy for anyone. This is a grieving widow, a grieving widow who is six months pregnant. She is only 24 years old and she has two other children.” | |
| Ms Wilson said she did not hear all of the conversation but claimed she did hear the President say the young woman’s husband “knew what he was signing up for”. | |
| “When she hung up the phone she turned to me and said ‘He did not even know his name’,” she said. “That was the worst part. I wanted to speak to him but the Master Sgt would not let me, because I was livid when I heard that.” |