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| Myeshia Johnson: Soldier's widow says Trump made me cry | Myeshia Johnson: Soldier's widow says Trump made me cry |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The widow of a dead US soldier says Donald Trump could not remember her husband's name when he phoned to offer condolences. | The widow of a dead US soldier says Donald Trump could not remember her husband's name when he phoned to offer condolences. |
| Myeshia Johnson, widow of Sgt La David Johnson, told ABC News the president's "stumbling" and tone "made me cry". | Myeshia Johnson, widow of Sgt La David Johnson, told ABC News the president's "stumbling" and tone "made me cry". |
| But President Trump said that he had used Sgt Johnson's name "without hesitation" and described the conversation as "very respectful". | But President Trump said that he had used Sgt Johnson's name "without hesitation" and described the conversation as "very respectful". |
| Sgt Johnson was killed in Niger by Islamist militants this month. | Sgt Johnson was killed in Niger by Islamist militants this month. |
| President Trump's call of condolence made headlines when Democratic congresswoman Frederica Wilson - who had heard it along with the family - accused him of insensitivity. | President Trump's call of condolence made headlines when Democratic congresswoman Frederica Wilson - who had heard it along with the family - accused him of insensitivity. |
| Myeshia Johnson appeared to confirm Ms Wilson's assertion that Mr Trump had told her her husband had known what he had signed up for when joining the military. | Myeshia Johnson appeared to confirm Ms Wilson's assertion that Mr Trump had told her her husband had known what he had signed up for when joining the military. |
| "The president said that he knew what he signed up for, but it hurts anyways... It made me cry because I was very angry at the tone of his voice and how he said it," she said. | "The president said that he knew what he signed up for, but it hurts anyways... It made me cry because I was very angry at the tone of his voice and how he said it," she said. |
| "He had my husband's report in front of him, and that's when he actually said La David. I heard him stumbling on trying to remember my husband's name." | "He had my husband's report in front of him, and that's when he actually said La David. I heard him stumbling on trying to remember my husband's name." |
| "If my husband is out here fighting for our country and he risks his life for our country, why can't you remember his name?" she added. | "If my husband is out here fighting for our country and he risks his life for our country, why can't you remember his name?" she added. |
| No-win situation | No-win situation |
| By Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington | |
| The Donald Trump condolence-call story is a White House headache that shows no signs of abating. | The Donald Trump condolence-call story is a White House headache that shows no signs of abating. |
| It started badly for the president, as he responded to a question about US military casualties in Niger by questioning how his predecessors had dealt with the families of war dead. | It started badly for the president, as he responded to a question about US military casualties in Niger by questioning how his predecessors had dealt with the families of war dead. |
| It got worse, as the story morphed into one of an allegedly callous presidential call to Myeshia Johnson, a grieving widow of one of the US soldiers killed in Niger. | It got worse, as the story morphed into one of an allegedly callous presidential call to Myeshia Johnson, a grieving widow of one of the US soldiers killed in Niger. |
| Now it's devolved into a he-said, she-said debate. Democratic Congresswoman Frederica Wilson - who knew the slain soldier - and Ms Johnson and her family claim the president mishandled the call, while Mr Trump and Chief-of-Staff John Kelly insist everything went smoothly. | Now it's devolved into a he-said, she-said debate. Democratic Congresswoman Frederica Wilson - who knew the slain soldier - and Ms Johnson and her family claim the president mishandled the call, while Mr Trump and Chief-of-Staff John Kelly insist everything went smoothly. |
| Needless to say, arguing with a war widow is a no-win situation, regardless of who has facts on their side. President George W Bush notably withstood harsh criticism from some bereaved families during the Iraq War without swiping back. | Needless to say, arguing with a war widow is a no-win situation, regardless of who has facts on their side. President George W Bush notably withstood harsh criticism from some bereaved families during the Iraq War without swiping back. |
| This president is different, which should come as a surprise to no one at this point. His choices could come at a high political price, however. | This president is different, which should come as a surprise to no one at this point. His choices could come at a high political price, however. |
| Read more: Five reasons Trump's widow story stings | Read more: Five reasons Trump's widow story stings |
| How did Trump respond? | How did Trump respond? |
| President Trump defended himself on Twitter on Monday, writing: "I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of Sgt La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation!" | President Trump defended himself on Twitter on Monday, writing: "I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of Sgt La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation!" |
| He has dismissed the account of the phone call given by Ms Wilson as "totally fabricated". | He has dismissed the account of the phone call given by Ms Wilson as "totally fabricated". |
| Speaking to reporters, he said: "I did not say what she [Ms Wilson] said... I had a very nice conversation." | Speaking to reporters, he said: "I did not say what she [Ms Wilson] said... I had a very nice conversation." |
| The White House said Mr Trump's conversations with the families of dead servicemen were private. | The White House said Mr Trump's conversations with the families of dead servicemen were private. |
| How did this row begin? | How did this row begin? |
| Sgt Johnson was one of four US special forces soldiers who died in an ambush in Niger on 4 October. Mr Trump was criticised for not contacting the families of the dead servicemen right after they were killed, or publicly commenting on their deaths until 12 days later when asked by a reporter. | Sgt Johnson was one of four US special forces soldiers who died in an ambush in Niger on 4 October. Mr Trump was criticised for not contacting the families of the dead servicemen right after they were killed, or publicly commenting on their deaths until 12 days later when asked by a reporter. |
| He responded to this criticism by falsely claiming that his predecessor, Barack Obama, and other former US presidents had not called the relatives of dead service members. | He responded to this criticism by falsely claiming that his predecessor, Barack Obama, and other former US presidents had not called the relatives of dead service members. |
| The row escalated when Mr Trump pointed out that his chief of staff, General John Kelly, after his son was killed in Afghanistan, did not receive a call from President Obama. | The row escalated when Mr Trump pointed out that his chief of staff, General John Kelly, after his son was killed in Afghanistan, did not receive a call from President Obama. |
| The White House later said Mr Trump had spoken to the families of those killed in Niger but did not say when. | The White House later said Mr Trump had spoken to the families of those killed in Niger but did not say when. |
| What happened in Niger? | What happened in Niger? |
| On 4 October, it was reported that three US soldiers had been killed and two others wounded in an ambush near the West African nation's border with Mali. | On 4 October, it was reported that three US soldiers had been killed and two others wounded in an ambush near the West African nation's border with Mali. |
| The injured soldiers were evacuated to the Landstuhul Regional Medical Centre in Germany and were said to be in a stable condition. | The injured soldiers were evacuated to the Landstuhul Regional Medical Centre in Germany and were said to be in a stable condition. |
| Two days later, the body of Sgt Johnson was found, making him the fourth American to die in the attack. | Two days later, the body of Sgt Johnson was found, making him the fourth American to die in the attack. |
| But the details of how the ambush happened - and how Sgt Johnson's body went missing - are still unclear. | But the details of how the ambush happened - and how Sgt Johnson's body went missing - are still unclear. |
| The US Africa Command said the soldiers had been providing assistance to Niger's "security force counter terrorism operations", and the US defence department said they had died as a result of "hostile fire while on a reconnaissance patrol". | The US Africa Command said the soldiers had been providing assistance to Niger's "security force counter terrorism operations", and the US defence department said they had died as a result of "hostile fire while on a reconnaissance patrol". |
| Officials say the attack was probably carried out by an affiliate of so-called Islamic State. Some reports suggest up to 50 militants may have ambushed the group. | Officials say the attack was probably carried out by an affiliate of so-called Islamic State. Some reports suggest up to 50 militants may have ambushed the group. |
| Islamist militants, including al-Qaeda fighters, are known to operate in the region. | Islamist militants, including al-Qaeda fighters, are known to operate in the region. |
| What are US troops doing in Niger? | What are US troops doing in Niger? |
| The deployment seemed to be news to some US congressmen. | The deployment seemed to be news to some US congressmen. |
| At least three senators said on Monday they were unaware that there are reportedly 1,000 American soldiers in the African nation. | At least three senators said on Monday they were unaware that there are reportedly 1,000 American soldiers in the African nation. |
| Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who sits on the armed services committee, admitted he had "little insight on why they [the US troops] were there and what they were doing". | Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who sits on the armed services committee, admitted he had "little insight on why they [the US troops] were there and what they were doing". |
| General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Monday that the US has had forces in Niger on and off for 20 years. | General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Monday that the US has had forces in Niger on and off for 20 years. |
| American servicemen have most recently been on active duty in the country since 2013. | American servicemen have most recently been on active duty in the country since 2013. |
| In a letter to Congress in June, President Trump confirmed there were 645 military personnel deployed there to support counter-terrorism missions. | In a letter to Congress in June, President Trump confirmed there were 645 military personnel deployed there to support counter-terrorism missions. |