United States President Donald Trump has denied insulting widow of an American soldier.
Trump issued clarification after Democrat Frederica Wilson claimed that Trump told Myeshia Johnson, widow of Sergeant La David Johnson, over phone that "well I guess he knew what he signed up for but I guess it still hurt".
The President tweeted that Wilson "fabricated" the quotes to score political points.
"Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!"
Johnson, 25, a father-of-three from Miami Gardens, Florida, was one of four Special Forces soldiers killed by Islamic State militants during an ambush in Niger on October 4.
Wilson first made the stunning claim Tuesday night, saying she was present when the call took place.
She added on CNN's "New Day" on Wednesday morning that Trump didn't know the name of the service member and that his widow "broke down" after her call with the President. Cowanda Jones-Johnson, a family member who raised Johnson, told CNN on Wednesday that Wilson's account of the call between Trump and Johnson's widow, Myeshia, was "very accurate." She said she was in the car when the call happened.
Wilson also said that Trump must have a "brain disorder".
"You know, 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," express.co.uk quoted Wilson, as saying.
After Trump's tweet, Wilson issued a statement and said Trump did hurt widow of Johnson and the matter was personal, not political for her.
"Despite President Trump's suggestion that I have recanted my statement or misstated what he said, I stand firmly by my original account of his conversation with Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson. Moreover, this account has been confirmed by family members who also witnessed Mr. Trump's incredible lack of compassion and sensitivity. This is personal for me, not political. Sgt. Johnson was a member of my community and of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project that I founded to help boys of color build successful futures," Wilson said.
Trump said he has proof Wilson fabricated her claim, but neither he nor the White House immediately provided any evidence.
CNN reported that White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday afternoon there was no recording of the call, saying Trump was referring to several people who were present in the room at the time.
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