According to Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) accused President Donald Trump of making an “insensitive and insane” call to the widow of fallen Green Beret LaDavid Johnson on Tuesday:
BREAKING: @RepWilson heard @realDonaldTrump 's call to Widow of LaDavid Johnson, killed in Niger, and says it was "Insensitive and Insane" @WPLGLocal10 (1/2)
— Ross Palombo (@RossPalombo) October 17, 2017
BREAKING: @RepWilson says @realDonaldTrump told soldier's widow "He knew what he signed up for… but when it happens it hurts anyway." @WPLGLocal10 (2/2)
— Ross Palombo (@RossPalombo) October 17, 2017
The White House responded last night that “the President’s conversations with the families of American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice are private”:
BREAKNG: Top White House official tells me about @realDonaldTrump comment to soldier’s widow “The President’s conversations with the families of American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice are private.” @WPLGLocal10
— Ross Palombo (@RossPalombo) October 18, 2017
Not so private for Rep Wilson:
.@RepWilson, who rode w/ Sgt. Johnson's widow, said she heard part of call w/ Pres. Trump; "He must've known what he signed up for" @NBC6 pic.twitter.com/Rep6ERrQEb
— Michael Spears (@MichaelKIRO7) October 17, 2017
Things got worse this morning on CNN when Rep. Wilson accused Trump of not remembering Johnson’s name:
“He didn’t even remember his name!” crying Green Beret widow said after phone call from @POTUS yesterday, @RepWilson tells @Morning_Joe.
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) October 18, 2017
On @cnn, @RepWilson said "I have no reason to lie.” Says @POTUS couldn't remember soldier's name & she wanted "to curse him out."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 18, 2017
Trump denies this:
Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2017
But it’s not over:
In response to Pres' tweet that she's fabricating what he told soldier's widow, @RepWilson says "the president is evidently lying."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 18, 2017
And Rep. Wilson says she has proof, too:
.@RepWilson standing by her comments, responding to this tweet from Trump on @NewDay saying "I have proof too, this man is a sick man," https://t.co/wjKiWQP4SN
— Noah Gray (@NoahGrayCNN) October 18, 2017
Wilson: Trump “is cold-hearted and feels no pity or sympathy for anyone”:
WATCH: @RepWilson on #Trump's claim she "fabricated" his comments to #SgtLaDavidJohnson's widow; "He didn't even know his name" (@CNN) pic.twitter.com/IJAfLiSgCI
— Dan Snyder (@DanSnyderFOX25) October 18, 2017
Which means this will turn into a 4-day story, if not longer:
Often presidential phone calls with foreign leaders are transcribed and recorded. But condolence calls? https://t.co/gVtzvuNOrb
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) October 18, 2017
Keep in mind all of this fighting back and forth happened on the day that Sgt. Johnson’s body was returned to Florida:
https://twitter.com/ellisonbarber/status/920471702156513281
A GoFundMe scholarship fund has been set up for Johnson’s kids:
Verified @gofundme campaign to pay for college for the children of Sgt. La David T. Johnson, KIA in Niger.https://t.co/RLLV8oE7FO
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 18, 2017
***
Related:
The WaPost fact-checked if Obama actually called the families of fallen soldiers, but there's a twist! https://t.co/Ua5O2viNS0
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 17, 2017