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The mother of a US serviceman killed in action during an ambush in Niger has criticised President Donald Trump for "disrespecting" her son.
Cowanda Jones-Johnson, mother of Special Forces soldier Sergeant La David Johnson, told The Washington Post she was present during a condolence phone call from the White House on Tuesday.
She told the newspaper: "President Trump did disrespect my son and my daughter and also me and my husband."
Mr Trump is reported to have told Sgt Johnson's widow that the soldier "knew what he signed up for" during that conversation, adding: "But when it happens it hurts anyway."
But he has denied those claims, which were revealed by Democrat congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who was also present during the conversation.
The US President phoned Sgt Johnson's pregnant widow Myeshia Johnson and spoke to her for about five minutes, according to ABC affiliate WPLG Local 10 in Miami.
The conversation happened shortly before Mrs Johnson and the couple's two children - a two-year-old son and six-year-old daughter - arrived at the airport to meet her husband's coffin.
Ms Wilson later tweeted: "Sgt La David Johnson is a hero.
"(Donald Trump) does not possess the character, empathy or grace to be president of the United States."
But President Trump hit back, tweeting: "Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!"
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
The White House later clarified there was no recording of the conversation but Trump staff had listened in on the call.
A former Walmart employee, Sgt Johnson enlisted in January 2014 and defied the odds to become a decorated member of the prestigious 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
But the 25-year-old was killed on 4 October along with three other US soldiers after his group was ambushed by more than 50 Islamist militants.
He was initially left behind during the evacuation and his body was retrieved nearly two days later.
Mr Trump was playing golf as Sgt Johnson's body arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on 7 October.
Mr Trump's phone conversation with Mrs Johnson comes just days after he was criticised for saying previous presidents had not called families of fallen services personnel.
He told NBC: "President Obama I think probably did sometimes, and maybe sometimes he didn't.
"I don't know, that's what I was told.
"All I can do, all I can do is ask my generals.
"Other presidents did not call. They'd write letters. And some presidents didn't do anything.
"But I like the combination of, I like, when I can, the combination of a call and also a letter."
The comments drew sharp rebukes, with some of Mr Obama's former White House aides expressing outrage at the claim.
Some critics say Mr Trump made them to distract attention from what happened to the four soldiers in Niger, which has not yet been fully explained.
The others killed in the Niger attack were Staff Sgt Bryan C Black, 35, of Washington; Staff Sgt Jeremiah W Johnson, 39, of Ohio, and Staff Sgt Dustin M Wright, 29, of Georgia.
The White House said Mr Trump had called all four families involved and "offered condolences on behalf of a grateful nation and assured them their families' extraordinary sacrifice to the country will never be forgotten".
(SKY NEWS)
