Soldier’s Widow Says Trump Struggled to Remember Sgt. La David Johnson’s Name
Mr. Trump called Ms. Johnson and said that her husband “knew what he signed up for,” and referred to the soldier as “your guy.” Ms. Wilson, a longtime family friend who accompanied Ms. Johnson and heard the call, recounted what the president said to several reporters and lamented
that the president had offended the young widow, who was upset that Mr. Trump did not seem to know Sergeant Johnson’s name.
And that’s what hurt me the most because if my husband is out here fighting for our country,
and he risked his life for our country, why can’t you remember his name?”
Last week, Mr. Trump denied saying that Sergeant Johnson had known what he signed up for,
but John F. Kelly, the president’s chief of staff — and who is himself the father of a Marine killed in action — told reporters that Mr. Trump had said those words.
WASHINGTON — The widow of one of four soldiers killed in Niger went on television on Monday to criticize President Trump for how he spoke to her during a condolence
call last week, drawing a swift denial from Mr. Trump, who breathed new life into a bitter controversy that has transformed a tragedy into a political feud.
