New low for Trump

PRESIDENT Donald Trump has snarled himself in fresh controversy after he was accused of being disrespectful to a soldier slain in an ambush in Niger and showing insensitivity to the grieving family.

Mr Trump disputed accounts of his conversation with the pregnant widow of Sergeant La David Johnson, 25, one of four servicemen killed in a jihadist ambush October 4.

But Sgt Johnson’s mother, Cowanda Jones-Johnson, told the Washington Post: “President Trump did disrespect my son and my daughter and also me and my husband.”

She agreed with an earlier account of the call by a Florida congresswoman who heard part of the conversation and accused Mr Trump of insensi- tivity for telling the pregnant widow, Myeshia Johnson, that the young soldier “knew what he was signing up for.”

“I didn’t hear the whole phone call, but I did hear him say ‘I’m sure he knew what he was signing up for, but I guess it still hurts’,” Representative Frederica Wilson said.

Mr Trump tweeted: “Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!”

He later said: “I did not say what she said” and “I had a very nice conversation.”

Asked about what proof he could offer, he said: “Let her make her statement again, then you will find out.”

Sgt Johnson was among four US soldiers killed on October 4 in Niger, where Islamic State fighters have established a presence. The military has released few details.

The Miami man’s body was returned home on Tuesday.

His wife Myeshia, who is expecting the couple’s third child, sobbed loudly while cradling his coffin.

Rep. Wilson said that after Mr Trump’s call, Myeshia “was crying, she broke down. And she said ‘He (Mr Trump) didn’t even know his name’.”

Another slain soldier’s father accused the President of going back on a promise to send him a cheque for $US25,000.

The White House said the money had been sent.

And chief of staff John Kelly, a retired Marine general whose son was killed in Afghanistan, was left angry and frustrated at the way the issue has become politicised after Mr Trump questioned whether then president Barack Obama called him with condolences.