Over the last week, one of the biggest stories to dominate the news cycle has been involving Donald Trump and his alleged insensitive comments to a war widow. After the president denied the allegations, the widow spoke out and caused a frenzy on social media.
Trump and the fallen
Earlier this month in Niger, Africa, four American soldiers were killed during an ambush. One of the soldiers was Army Sgt. La David Johnson, who left behind his pregnant wife Myeshia and their two young children. Last week, Johnson's body was flown into Miami International Airport, were Mrs.
Johnson and her children greeted the casket. At this time Myeshia also received a phone call from the White House and spoke with President Donald Trump. According to Florida Rep. Frederica Wilson, who was in attendance at the time, Trump told the widow that her husband "knew what he signed up for," which reportedly brought her to tears. Once Wilson made the incident public, Trump and the White House quickly pushed back, insulting the congresswoman as "wacky" and accusing her of lying. Despite this, Mrs. Johnson appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" on October 23 to elaborate further on the story.
President Trump responds to my conversation with Sgt. LaDavid Johnson's widow, Myeshia Johnson, this morning on @GMA pic.twitter.com/zEsMWzHaTt
— GeorgeStephanopoulos (@GStephanopoulos) October 23, 2017
Joining host George Stephanopoulos, Myeshia Johnson spoke about the now much-debated phone call between herself and Donald Trump.
"It made me cry, because I was very angry at the tone in his voice and how he said it," Mrs. Johnson said, before claiming Trump never even used her husband's name. Mrs. Johnson continued, noting that the only reason Trump knew her husband's name was because "he told me he had my husband’s report in front of him," she continued.
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
Not stopping there, Myeshia Johnson explained that it hurt her the most that Donald Trump didn't appear to even go out of his way to learn his name without having someone in the administration hand him the proper documents.
Mrs. Johnson noted that her husband gave his life for the country, before rhetorically asking the president, "why can’t you remember his name?"
Trump's response
Within minutes of the interview airing on ABC, Donald Trump took to Twitter to give his side of the story. "I had a very respectful conversation with the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, and spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation!" the president tweeted.
Twitter reacts
Following Donald Trump's rebuttal to Myeshia Johnson, critics on social media were quick to fire back. "Why don't I believe you? #Resign President Petty Paws. #Resign before midnight tonight so you don't forget!" one tweet read.
Just let it be over with already. We had soldiers die, fighting for this country! You are making this death about yourself. Stop it now!
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) October 23, 2017
Did he really just call this gold star widow a liar?!
— T's Crochet Creation (@crochet_t) October 23, 2017
You're clearly blaming HER for misunderstanding YOU. When you should be blaming YOU for not expressing yourself properly.
— Pé Resists (@4everNeverTrump) October 23, 2017
"Why don't you just drop it already?
Continuing to tweet about this it's doing no good whatsoever," another tweet added. "Did he really just call this gold star widow a liar?!" an additional tweet wondered.
I'm willing to bet the American people are going to trust the family of the dead soldier over you
— Impeach Donald Trump (@Impeach_D_Trump) October 23, 2017
Why don't I believe you? #Resign President Petty Paws. #Resign before midnight tonight so you don't forget!
— Mysterious Cackle (@MartinaClarkSFO) October 23, 2017
"Holy Cow! When is it going to end? Just let it go already! You are the only one who is dragging this on and continuing to drag this family into your ridiculous mess," yet another tweet noted. The backlash continued as the opposition to Donald Trump doesn't look to be ending anytime soon.