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Trump 'didn't even know fallen US soldier's name' when he called grieving widow, congresswoman claims Trump 'didn't even know fallen US soldier's name' when he called grieving widow, congresswoman claims
(about 3 hours later)
Donald Trump has been accused of not knowing the name of a dead solider whose widow he telephoned to console after he was killed in Niger.Donald Trump has been accused of not knowing the name of a dead solider whose widow he telephoned to console after he was 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 spoke to the widow of one of the US soldiers recently killed in Niger. 
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 travelling with her family to meet her husband’s casket at Miami International Airport.
Democratic Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who was accompanying the family, told CNN that 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 that 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.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.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.
After Mr Trump said Ms Wilson’s claims were a fabrication, the congresswoman doubled down and provided more information about the call.After Mr Trump said Ms Wilson’s claims were a fabrication, the congresswoman doubled down and provided more information about the call.
“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.”“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.”
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.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.
Mr Trump initiated the controversy over the way that relatives of service members killed in action were treated, when he claimed he was rare among presidents in calling or writing to them.Mr Trump initiated the controversy over the way that relatives of service members killed in action were treated, when he claimed he was rare among presidents in calling or writing to them.
“If you look at President Obama and other presidents, most of them didn’t make calls,” Mr Trump said on Monday at a press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House.“If you look at President Obama and other presidents, most of them didn’t make calls,” Mr Trump said on Monday at a press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House.
“A lot of them didn’t make calls. I like to call when it’s appropriate.”“A lot of them didn’t make calls. I like to call when it’s appropriate.”
Mr Trump’s comments were quickly rejected by former members of staff of Mr Obama and President George W Bush.Mr Trump’s comments were quickly rejected by former members of staff of Mr Obama and President George W Bush.
“This is an outrageous and disrespectful lie even by Trump standards,” Benjamin Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser to Mr Obama, said on Twitter. “This is an outrageous and disrespectful lie even by Trump standards,” Benjamin Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser to Mr Obama, said on Twitter. 
“Also, Obama never attacked a Gold Star family.”“Also, Obama never attacked a Gold Star family.”
The Pentagon has launched an investigation of the fatal mission in Niger and the ambush by 50 Isis-linked fighters that left four US soldiers dead and two wounded. There have reports the US personnel were lacking in intelligence about the situation on the ground.The Pentagon has launched an investigation of the fatal mission in Niger and the ambush by 50 Isis-linked fighters that left four US soldiers dead and two wounded. There have reports the US personnel were lacking in intelligence about the situation on the ground.