Trump’s Condolence Call Feud Escalates

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President Trump

Several Army special forces soldiers were killed during an operation in West Africa earlier this month. As a typical practice, Presidents give condolence calls to the grieving families of the deceased soldiers. It took President Trump 12 days to acknowledge the deaths publicly.

Trump’s Delayed Reaction

The president has been accused of being insensitive to the widow of one of the Green Berets killed in Africa, Sgt. La David T. Johnson. Trump apparently called the widow while she was on her way to retrieve her husband’s remains. A Democratic congresswoman overheard the call. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.) was in a limousine with Sgt. Johnson’s widow who had Trump’s call on speaker phone. Trump allegedly told the widow that her husband “must have known what he signed up for.”

This past Wednesday, the mother of Sgt. Johnson said that “President Trump did disrespect my son.” Trump rebutted her on Twitter, claiming to have “proof” of the conversation.

After receiving criticism his delayed reaction, Trump took a shot at Obama, claiming he never called military families. The president even referenced the deceased son of his chief of staff, General John Kelly. He claimed that the Kelly never received a call from Obama, who was president when Kelly’s sone died. The Obamas actually met with the family in person.