US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has defended his call to the widow of an American soldier killed in Niger, saying he was “respectful” and that he did not forget the soldier’s name.
Trump addressed the call on Twitter after Myeshia Johnson, Sgt La David Johnson’s widow, appeared on a TV show.
She said that in the president’s call to her last week, he “couldn’t remember my husband’s name”.
Johnson added: “The only way he could remember my husband’s name was he told me he had my husband’s report in front of him, and that’s when he actually said ‘La David’.”
On Twitter, Trump responded: “I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of Sgt La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation!”
Sgt Johnson and three comrades died in October 4 following an attack in the west African nation.
The exchange was the latest spat in an ongoing dispute over how Trump responded to news that four US service members were killed in Niger.
Myeshia Johnson’s TV appearance marked her first interview after a Democratic congresswoman accused Trump of being callous in the call by telling the widow that her husband “knew what he signed up for”.
Trump had accused Frederica Wilson of fabricating the statement. In other tweets, he called the congresswoman “wacky” and accused her of “SECRETLY” listening to the phone call.
Johnson confirmed Wilson’s account yesterday, saying the congresswoman was a long-time friend who was with the family in the car when Trump called and listened on speakerphone.
She said she had asked for the call to be put on speakerphone so relatives with her could hear.
“The president said that he knew what he signed up for, but it hurts anyway,” Mrs Johnson said.
The four US soldiers were killed when they were attacked by militants with links to Daesh. The political conflict has steadily escalated for a week, with Wilson attacking the administration and the president firing off insulting tweets.
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