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Sgt. La David Johnson was one of four U.S. soldiers killed on Oct. 4. (photo: U.S. Army)
ALSO SEE: Fallen Soldiers' Families
Say They Never Heard From Trump
Trump to Wife of Slain Soldier: "He Knew What He Was Signing Up For"
18 October 17
They were astonished,” Wilson said. “It was almost like saying, 'You signed up to do this, and if you didn’t want to die, shouldn’t have signed up'.”
.S. President Donald Trump reportedly told the widow of 25-year-old U.S. Army Sergeant La David Johnson, that her late husband "knew what he was signing up for," when he joined the military.
According to Rep. Frederica Wilson, Trump made the remark to the pregnant wife of the late veteran, who was killed in Niger, during a phone call. Johnson is the mother of two other children, a two-year-old son and a six-year-old daughter.
Wilson told an NBC affiliate that Trump initially sounded like he was speaking "sarcastically" and that "he said it more than once."
The veteran was one of four U.S. Special Operations soldiers killed in an ambush in Niger on Oct 4.
Wilson was with Myeshia awaiting the arrival of her husband's remains, when she received the 3-5 minute phone call from the president.
Wilson said she heard Trump say to Johnson: "he knew what he was signing up for, but when it happens it hurts anyways," referring to the death of Johnson's spouse. “They were astonished,” the congresswoman told the New York Post. “It was almost like saying, 'You signed up to do this, and if you didn’t want to die, shouldn’t have signed up'.”
She also posted some harsh words aimed at Trump on Twitter.
Sgt. La David Johnson is a hero. @realDonaldTrump does not possess the character, empathy or grace to be president of the United States.
The White House declined to address that specific conversation, but told CNBC that "the president's conversations with the families of American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice are private."
Trump had earlier faced heavy criticism for taking too long — two weeks — to acknowledge the deaths of the men who lost their lives in Africa.
On Monday, he told reporters in response, "I will, at some point, during the period of time, call the parents and the families, because I have done that, traditionally," before launching into an attack on former President Barack Obama.
"If you look at President Obama and other presidents, most of them didn't make calls. A lot of them didn't make calls. I like to call when it's appropriate, when I think I am able to do it," Trump said at the White House's Rose Garden.
"So generally I would say that I like to call. I'm going to be calling them — I want a little time to pass — I'm going to be calling them. I have, as you know, since I've been president I have. But in addition I actually wrote letters individually to the soldiers we're talking about and they're going to be going out either today or tomorrow."
Trump's comments drew the ire of retired military officers as well as former presidential aides.
On Tuesday, he dragged General John Kelly into the discussion, referencing the death of the general's son.
"Now, as far as other representatives, I don't know. I mean, you could ask General Kelly did he get a call from Obama. You could ask other people, I don't know what Obama's policy was. I write letters and I also call."
He would eventually admit that he was unaware of whether or not Obama contacted the families of fallen servicemen.
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