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Widow of dead soldier hits out at Trump Myeshia Johnson: Widow of dead soldier hits out at Trump
(about 1 hour later)
The widow of a dead US soldier says President 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" had "hurt her the most".Myeshia Johnson, widow of Sgt La David Johnson, told ABC News the president's "stumbling" had "hurt her the most".
"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.
Sgt La David 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 congresswoman Frederica Wilson - who heard it 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."
President Trump has disputed the account of the call given by Ms Wilson and he also defended himself on Twitter on Monday morning, writing: "I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation!" No-win situation
Sgt Johnson was one of four US special forces soldiers who died in an ambush on 4 October. By Anthony Zurcher, senior North America reporter, BBC News
Mr Trump had already been criticised for not contacting the families of the dead servicemen right after they were killed. The Donald Trump condolence-call story is a White House headache that shows no signs of abating.
He responded to the criticism by falsely claiming that his predecessor, Barack Obama, and other former US presidents had not called the relatives of dead service members. 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.
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.
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.
How did Trump respond?
President Trump defended himself on Twitter on Monday morning, 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".
Mr Trump said he had "proof" that Ms Wilson's account was inaccurate but has yet to provide it.
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.
What do Trump's accusers say?
Congresswoman Wilson told WPLG, a Miami TV station, she had heard the president's "insensitive" remarks on speakerphone.
"That is something that you can say in a conversation, but you shouldn't say that to a grieving widow," she said.
She added: "Everyone knows when you go to war, you could possibly not come back alive. But you don't remind a grieving widow of that".
Ms Wilson also accused Mr Trump of making Myeshia Johnson cry.
Sgt Johnson's mother, Cowanda Jones-Johnson, told the Washington Post newspaper that President Trump "did disrespect my son".
She said she was present during the call and stood by Ms Wilson's account of what was said.
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.
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 suggested that President Obama had not called the family of his chief of staff, General John Kelly, when their son was killed in Afghanistan.
The White House later said he had spoken to the families of those killed in Niger but did not say when.