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| White House chief of staff John Kelly defends Trump over widow remarks | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The White House chief of staff has launched an impassioned attack on a "selfish" congresswoman who said President Trump made a war widow cry. | The White House chief of staff has launched an impassioned attack on a "selfish" congresswoman who said President Trump made a war widow cry. |
| General John Kelly said he was "broken-hearted" by the Democrat's criticism of the president's condolence call to Sgt La David Johnson's wife. | |
| Sgt Johnson was one of four killed in Niger by Islamist militants this month. | Sgt Johnson was one of four killed in Niger by Islamist militants this month. |
| Gen Kelly also said he did not receive a call from President Barack Obama when his son died in Afghanistan in 2010. | Gen Kelly also said he did not receive a call from President Barack Obama when his son died in Afghanistan in 2010. |
| Trump sends cheque after family complains | Trump sends cheque after family complains |
| The chief of staff, a former Marine Corps general, said in the White House briefing room that Representative Frederica Wilson was "an empty barrel". | |
| The Florida Democrat said on Wednesday that she had overheard Mr Trump telling bereaved Myeshia Johnson of her slain husband: "He knew what he was signing up for, but I guess it hurts anyway." | |
| Ms Wilson said the president's alleged remarks, shortly before Sgt Johnson's coffin arrived by aircraft in his home city of Miami, made Ms Johnson break down in tears. | Ms Wilson said the president's alleged remarks, shortly before Sgt Johnson's coffin arrived by aircraft in his home city of Miami, made Ms Johnson break down in tears. |
| President Trump said the congresswoman had "totally fabricated" the comments. | President Trump said the congresswoman had "totally fabricated" the comments. |
| On Thursday, Gen Kelly said he was so "stunned" by Ms Wilson's attack that he spent more than an hour walking among soldiers' graves at Arlington National Cemetery, just outside Washington. | On Thursday, Gen Kelly said he was so "stunned" by Ms Wilson's attack that he spent more than an hour walking among soldiers' graves at Arlington National Cemetery, just outside Washington. |
| The chief of staff said he had advised the president not to call the loved ones of the four American servicemen killed in Niger, telling him: "There's nothing you can do to lighten the burden on these families." | The chief of staff said he had advised the president not to call the loved ones of the four American servicemen killed in Niger, telling him: "There's nothing you can do to lighten the burden on these families." |
| Gen Kelly described such a task as "the most difficult thing you can imagine". | Gen Kelly described such a task as "the most difficult thing you can imagine". |
| "There is no perfect way to make that phone call," he added. | "There is no perfect way to make that phone call," he added. |
| Five reasons Trump's widow story stings | Five reasons Trump's widow story stings |
| He also discussed the death of his own son, Robert Kelly, a 29-year-old Marine first lieutenant who died when he stepped on an Afghan landmine. | He also discussed the death of his own son, Robert Kelly, a 29-year-old Marine first lieutenant who died when he stepped on an Afghan landmine. |
| Gen Kelly said: "He [President Trump] asked me about previous presidents. And I said, 'I can tell you that President Obama, who was my commander-in-chief when I was on active duty, did not call my family.' | Gen Kelly said: "He [President Trump] asked me about previous presidents. And I said, 'I can tell you that President Obama, who was my commander-in-chief when I was on active duty, did not call my family.' |
| "That was not a criticism. That was just to simply say, I don't believe that President Obama called. That's not a negative thing. | "That was not a criticism. That was just to simply say, I don't believe that President Obama called. That's not a negative thing. |
| "I don't believe President Bush called in all cases. I don't believe any president, particularly when the casualty rates are very, very high, that presidents call." | "I don't believe President Bush called in all cases. I don't believe any president, particularly when the casualty rates are very, very high, that presidents call." |
| The controversy began on Monday when a reporter asked Mr Trump at the White House why he had still not called the families of the four soldiers killed in the fatal ambush in Niger on 4 October. | |
| The president provoked outrage by suggesting that his predecessor, Barack Obama, and other former US presidents did not call the relatives of dead service members. | The president provoked outrage by suggesting that his predecessor, Barack Obama, and other former US presidents did not call the relatives of dead service members. |
| On Tuesday, Mr Trump ratcheted up the row by stating that President Obama did not call Gen Kelly's family. | On Tuesday, Mr Trump ratcheted up the row by stating that President Obama did not call Gen Kelly's family. |
| Mr Kelly also said the Pentagon was investigating the details of the deaths of Sgt Johnson and the other servicemen in the west African country. | |
| But Senator John McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he was not being given any details, adding that he could issue a subpoena for the information. | |
| Asked by reporters what information he still lacked, he said "everything". | |
| And asked if the White house had been forthcoming, he responded: "Of course not." |