President Trump has reached out to the family of every soldier killed on duty whose case has undergone an official notification process since he took office, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Wednesday.
“The president’s made contact with all of the families” of fallen soldiers, Sanders told reporters at the White House Wednesday amid controversy over Trump’s calls to military families.
“All of the individuals that the president has been presented with through the proper protocol have been contacted,” Sanders clarified.
The White House spokeswoman said Trump has called the families of soldiers whose cases have made their way through a formal vetting process involving the Pentagon and the White House.
“Once a person is killed in action, the process begins with a DOD casualty assistance officer making next of kin notifications,” Sanders said.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday Trump has not made contact with at least two families who lost military service members on duty.
Trump has faced scrutiny over a phone call he made to the widow of a fallen soldier earlier this week.
Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., claimed on Tuesday Trump had upset Myeshia Johnson, the wife of slain Sgt. La David Johnson, by telling her husband “must have known what he signed up for” when he joined the Army. La David Johnson was one of four U.S. soldiers killed in Niger on Oct. 4.
Trump has repeatedly denied he showed insensitivity in his call to Myeshia Johnson. He argued on Twitter Wednesday morning he had “proof” Wilson had mischaracterized their conversation and later told reporters he had a “very nice” exchange with the Army sergeant’s widow.
Trump drew attention to his outreach to military families earlier this week, when he claimed former President Barack Obama didn’t often call the families of fallen soldiers.
Former Obama administration officials quickly disputed Trump’s claim, arguing Obama reached out to families throughout his presidency.
