The mother of an Army sergeant killed in Niger says President Donald Trump, in a call offering condolences, showed “disrespect” to the soldier’s loved ones as they drove to the airport to meet his body.
David Johnson was one of four American military personnel killed nearly two weeks ago whose families had not heard from Trump until Tuesday.
Democratic politician Frederica Wilson said Trump told the widow Johnson “knew what he signed up for”.
The Florida Democrat said she was in the car with the widow, Myeshia Johnson, on the way to Miami International Airport to meet the body when Trump called.
Johnson’s mother, Cowanda Jones-Johnson, told The Associated Press Wednesday that the congresswoman’s account was correct.
Trump on Wednesday declared on Twitter: “Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!”
Wilson did not back down from her account, suggesting that Trump “never wants to take ownership” of a mistake.
Trump has made personal contact with some families of the fallen but not all. What’s different is that Trump picked a political fight over who’s done better to honour the war dead and their families.
He placed himself at the top of the list, saying on Tuesday, “I think I’ve called every family of someone who’s died” while past presidents didn’t place such calls.
But The Associated Press found relatives of two soldiers who died overseas during Trump’s presidency who said they never received a call or a letter from him, as well as relatives of a third who did not get a call.
Proof is plentiful that Barack Obama and George W. Bush – saddled with far more combat casualties than the roughly two dozen so far under Trump, took painstaking steps to write, call or meet bereaved military families.
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The sad thing is, a lot if not most of his supporters will believe him and call the grieving mother a liar. >:( I just hope she doesn't cop abuse from the extremist Trump supporters, like the grieving parents were of Sandy Hook were abused, called liars, and even threatened by gun extremists. There is most often zero humanity or human decency shown by these far-right radical extremists. So I hope she isn't targeted, but after seeing how Sandy Hook parents who lost their children were treated, as if they faked it, and knowing how the far-right radical extremists are in the grip of a Trump religious cult where they are so brainwashed they automatically believe everything their cult leader says, I wouldn't be surprised if she was subject to abuse.
The guy is a complete imbecile and liar, it would have been better if he hadn’t called her at all. Shame Donald. Sad.