This morning the Widow of fallen US soldier Sgt. La David Johnson tells ABC News that Trump couldn’t remember the name of her son in their phone call last week:
"[Pres. Trump] couldn't remember my husband's name. … That's what hurt me the most." – Myeshia Johnson, widow of Sgt. La David Johnson pic.twitter.com/px5io2RbJB
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 23, 2017
But Trump took to Twitter just a few minutes ago and refuted the widow, saying he had a very respectful conversation with her and spoke Johnson’s name from the beginning and without hesitation:
I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 23, 2017
This is somewhat dangerous territory. I get why Trump feels the need to defend himself, especially if he feels she isn’t telling the truth about the phone call. And to his credit, he was very diplomatic in that tweet.
But he should be careful not to get into a back and forth with her as this topic is very sensitive. I personally don’t think it’s appropriate that she has taken this public in the first place, as I think she only wants to use this to bash Trump. But it’s out there now and Trump needs maintain a level of respect and dignity for the widow that he’s not used to maintaining.