Under pressure over President Donald Trump’s reported handling of a call with the widow of an Army sergeant killed in action, the White House on Wednesday did not dispute details that have emerged about Trump saying the soldier “knew what he was signing up for” when he joined the military.
Trump reportedly said this to Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, in a phone call on Tuesday. Sgt. Johnson was one of four U.S. Special Operations soldiers killed in Niger on Oct. 4.
Details of the call were first revealed by Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., who was sitting with Johnson’s widow while she spoke to Trump on Tuesday afternoon. The details were later confirmed by Johnson’s mother.
Trump on Wednesday repeatedly denied that he told Johnson that her husband “knew what he was signing up for.” He also claimed to have “proof” that Wilson’s account was “totally fabricated.”
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, however, said that the “proof” Trump referred to was merely that there were other administration officials present for the call.
Sanders also declined to back up the president’s denials when she was asked about them at the daily White House briefing. Instead, Sanders emphasized that Trump had done “the best job he could under those circumstances.”
Under pressure over President Donald Trump’s reported handling of a call with the widow of an Army sergeant killed in action, the White House on Wednesday did not dispute details that have emerged about Trump saying the soldier “knew what he was signing up for” when he joined the military.
Trump reportedly said this to Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, in a phone call on Tuesday. Sgt. Johnson was one of four U.S. Special Operations soldiers killed in Niger on Oct. 4.
Details of the call were first revealed by Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., who was sitting with Johnson’s widow while she spoke to Trump on Tuesday afternoon. The details were later confirmed by Johnson’s mother.
Trump on Wednesday repeatedly denied that he told Johnson that her husband “knew what he was signing up for.” He also claimed to have “proof” that Wilson’s account was “totally fabricated.”
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, however, said that the “proof” Trump referred to was merely that there were other administration officials present for the call.
Sanders also declined to back up the president’s denials when she was asked about them at the daily White House briefing. Instead, Sanders emphasized that Trump had done “the best job he could under those circumstances.”
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