President Trump fired back at a Democratic congresswoman who “fabricated” a claim that he made insensitive remarks to the widow of a fallen soldier.
The president on Wednesday denied Rep. Frederica Wilson’s claim that he allegedly told the widow of a US serviceman killed in an ambush in Niger that “he knew what he signed up for.”
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
The Florida lawmaker made the rounds to news outlets Tuesday, recounting what she said she overheard in Trump’s private conversation.
Wilson was in a car with Myeshia Johnson on Tuesday, headed to Miami International Airport to meet the body of U.S. Army Sgt. La David Johnson, who was killed earlier this month in an ambush in Niger. Trump called to offer condolences to the widow while she was en route.
.@RepWilson says POTUS told soldier’s widow her late husband ‘knew what he signed up for.’ “That’s so insensitive” https://t.co/7mMSb4RqHB pic.twitter.com/DQXWgk6mh4
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) October 18, 2017
“Basically he said, ‘Well, I guess he knew what he signed up for. But I guess it still hurt.’ That’s what he said,” Wilson told CNN’s Don Lemon about the conversation she claimed to hear on speakerphone. She confirmed her comments to WPLG.
“Yeah, he said that,” Wilson said. “That is something that you can say in a conversation, but you shouldn’t say that to a grieving widow. Everyone knows when you go to war you could possibly not come back alive, but you don’t remind a grieving widow of that. That is so insensitive. So insensitive.”
Johnson was one of four service members who were killed when Islamic militants ambushed the soldiers Oct. 4 during a Green Berets mission in Niger. Johnson’s widow, caring for their 2-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter, is expecting the couple’s third child in January.
Conservative commentator and author Michelle Malkin called out Wilson’s comments as “bullsh**”
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Malkin ripped into the Democrat’s claim in a tweet on Tuesday, calling the Democrat out for “pot-stirring” and blasting journalists she called “lemmings” who faithfully regurgitate the comments.
I call bullshit. This is hearsay, uncorroborated, and out of context pot-stirring by Dem partisans riding the impeachment bandwagon–and recycled by lemmings masquerading as journalists.#fakenews https://t.co/Fmi8XJVlny
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) October 18, 2017
Wilson admitted she did not hear the whole call.
“Now I didn’t hear the entire conversation,” she told WPLG, “but when I tried to find out what the entire conversation was, she said I just can’t remember everything that he said. But that stood out in everyone’s, uh heart, on the call.”
A White House official told ABC News on Tuesday that “the president’s conversations with the families of American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice are private.”
Trump’s Wednesday morning tweet stated that he had “proof” that Wilson “totally fabricated” what he said. And coupled with the sentiments of those like Malkin, many on social media believed the news stories were highly likely to be misleading.
100% bs
— Rob (@Steelerob69) October 18, 2017
Even if he said it, it’s construed by people with common sense as a high compliment. Only people out-of-touch with military fail to ‘get it’
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) October 18, 2017
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If he did say it , it’s a telling of his bravery and strength commitment as a solider when you take the oath you’ll never feel anything stronger totally a compliment .
— scott r spaulding (@flht316) October 18, 2017
Someone who never served has no clue. As a former military wife, my husband knew what he signed up for. It’s a common phrase.
— Cofemale ? (@GrandmaWarrior) October 18, 2017
Actually it’s an honorable statement to make because these people were willing to give their lives and did so knowingly
— TheGriff (@griffm601) October 18, 2017
Very true. It is an honorable statement spoken with the best intentions. You would think the media would know this but they are not trying.
— Caroline Cutler (@cutler_caroline) October 18, 2017
Insensitive is kneeing during our national anthem for those who fought for this country knowing they may never return.
— Wade (@hamp2879) October 18, 2017
@RepWilson Where was the democrat’s outrage when hillary clinton call Patricia Smith a liar??
— BtsBill ???? (@BtsBill) October 18, 2017
Not something Trump would do. He thinks highly of the military. All of the military. But hey, we need a big distraction don’t we.
— Rufusthedog66 (@Rufusthedog66) October 18, 2017
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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