Trump Is a Terrible President Because He's a Terrible Human Being

U.S. Special Forces Sgt. La David T. Johnson was killed, along with three other soldiers, on the border of Niger and Mali on October 4. Following 12 days of silence, Donald Trump finally called the fallen soldiers' families.

When he spoke to Johnson's widow, Myeshia Johnson, Rep. Frederica Wilson was with her, and overheard the conversation. She described what happened to CNN's Don Lemon:

Here's first person account of President telling grieving widow 'that's what he signed up for' ... https://t.co/pToxraJKfB pic.twitter.com/kVh9z3ZXGk

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) October 18, 2017

LEMON: How is she doing tonight?

WILSON: Oh, she's — she's very distraught. And, ah, we were in the car together, in the limousine, headed to meet the body at the airport, so — I heard what he said, because the phone was on speaker.

LEMON: What did he say?

WILSON: Well, basically, he said, ah, "Well, I guess he knew what he signed up for. But I guess it still hurts."

LEMON: Hmm.

WILSON: That's what he said.

LEMON: The president said to her, uh, "He knew what he signed up for"—

WILSON: "He knew what he was signing up for."

LEMON: "But when it happens, it hurts anyway."

WILSON: Uh-huh.

LEMON: Yeah.

WILSON: So, it's almost as if— This is a young, young woman, who has two children, who is six months pregnant with a third child; she has just lost her husband; she was just told that he cannot have an open casket funeral, which gives her all kinds of nightmares how his body must look, how his face must look; and this is what the President of the United States says to her?!

Let us all take a moment to appreciate the stunning bravery of Rep. Wilson for immediately going public with this callous exchange, despite the fact that she certainly anticipated the blowback she'd get when Trump inevitably called her a liar. Which he has.

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

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2017

Wilson stands by her account, plainly saying "the president evidently is lying, because what I said is true," and noting: "I have proof, too. This man is a sick man."

This story is not over. Because Trump will continue to not give a single shit about this grieving family he's already harmed with his unfathomable callousness.

My condolences to Myeshia Johnson and her children; to the rest of Sgt. La David Johnson's family; to his friends and colleagues. I am so sorry for your loss. And I am so sorry that our despicable president has caused you additional pain.