Natasha De Alencar released the audio of a phone conversation she had with President Trump in April about the death of her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, who was killed in Afghanistan.
“I am so sorry to hear about the whole situation. What a horrible thing, except that he’s an unbelievable hero,” Trump told her in the call.
Trump told her repeatedly that her husband was a hero, and Natasha stayed composed as she thanked him.
Related: John Kelly defends Trump’s outreach to Gold Star families in emotional press briefing
“Thank you. I really, really appreciated it,” she said. “I really do, sir.”
Trump also used the call, reported by the Washington Post, to invite her to the White House.
“If you’re around Washington, you come over and see me in the Oval Office,” he said. “You just come over and see me because you are just the kind of family … this is what we want.”
“Say hello to your children, and tell them your father he was a great hero that I respected,” Trump said. “Just tell them I said your father was a great hero.”
Watch: John Kelly’s full remarks about Gold Star families
The call was released as the White House is fighting complaints from Democrats that he was insensitive on a call with another widow, which was overheard by Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla. Wilson said Trump told the widow that her husband “knew what he was getting into.”
White House chief of staff John Kelly rejected that criticism on Thursday, and said Trump’s message reflected the message he received when his own son died: that his son knew the risks of serving in the military, and died among friends, doing what he loved.
