Nineteen days after her husband’s death and two days after his wrenching burial, the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson said she has “nothing to say” to President Trump, whose condolence call pulled the grieving widow into the center of a national controversy.
“Very upset and hurt; it made me cry even worse,” Myeshia Johnson told “Good Morning America” about her conversation with the president.
"[I was] very upset and hurt. It made me cry even worse." – Myeshia Johnson, widow of Sgt. La David Johnson to @GStephanopoulos pic.twitter.com/JguNqTaYa3
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 23, 2017
Making her first public comments since she took the call from Trump last week — on the same day her husband’s remains were flown back to the United States — Johnson recalled that the president said her husband “knew what he signed up for, but it hurts anyways. And it made me cry. I was very angry at the tone of his voice, and how he said it.”
FULL INTERVIEW between @GStephanopoulos and Myeshia Johnson, widow of fallen soldier Sgt. La David Johnson: https://t.co/8fRPhejRl8 pic.twitter.com/8UzCwVDGVp
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 23, 2017
She added: “I didn’t say anything. I just listened.”
Trump on Monday disputed Johnson’s account, characterizing his conversation with her as “very respectful.”
"I don't know how he got killed, where he got killed or anything." – widow of Sgt. La David Johnson to @GStephanopoulos pic.twitter.com/R8GuzrDpeW
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 23, 2017
Sgt. Johnson was killed in action in West Africa on Oct. 4, one of four U.S. soldiers who died in Niger when Islamic State militants attacked them.
"[Pres. Trump] couldn't remember my husband's name. … That's what hurt me the most." – Myeshia Johnson, widow of Sgt. La David Johnson pic.twitter.com/px5io2RbJB
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 23, 2017
His body was flown back to the United States on Tuesday. Soon after, his name became entangled in a controversy after Trump was accused of making insensitive remarks to the 25-year-old soldier’s widow.
Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.) said Trump told Myeshia Johnson on the phone that her husband “must have known what he signed up for,” an account later corroborated by Johnson’s aunt and custodial mother, Cowanda Jones-Johnson.
“Whatever [@RepWilson] said was not fabricated. What she said was 100% correct.” – widow of Sgt. La David Johnson on Pres. Trump’s call pic.twitter.com/fOAmT7c0Bk
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 23, 2017
Trump vehemently denied Wilson’s account, stating without evidence that he had proof it was “totally fabricated.” But White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly later appeared to confirm Wilson’s account. Myeshia Johnson said Monday that Wilson’s version of events was “100 percent correct.”
Johnson said several people — including her aunt and uncle, an Army official, and Wilson — heard the conversation because Trump was placed on speaker phone.
“Why would we fabricate something like that?” she said.
https://twitter.com/RepWilson/status/1059530429039104000
She’s 25 years old. She’s pregnant. She has 2 kids. She just lost her husband. And she went on nat’l TV to speak truth to power #respect
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) October 23, 2017
For every angry Tweet about the Trump-Wilson dustup, I’m thinking of replying with a link to the Go Fund Me page for scholarships for La David Johnson’s kids https://t.co/3VEcWWfaMf
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) October 21, 2017
Here’s a list of ALL Republicans in Congress who condemned @realDonaldTrump for attacking Gold Star families & defending neo-Nazis:
?
?
?
?
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) October 24, 2017
Shane GoldmacherVerified account @ShaneGoldmacher 3m3 minutes ago
More Shane Goldmacher Retweeted Meg Wagner
Sen. Bob Corker tells @mkraju that Trump “debases” the country: “The president has great difficulty with the truth.”
Well, Corker is letting it rip. Impeach this mofo!
John Kelly Just Showed Us Who He Is as a Human Being
by Nancy LeTourneau
October 20, 2017
Let’s be honest, the only things most of us know about Congresswoman Frederica Wilson are that she is African American and a rather flamboyant dresser. So I’m not here to defend her record in Congress—or prior to being elected. But one of the ugliest aspects of what John Kelly did yesterday in his remarks during the press briefing was to attack her personally. As it turns out, his attempts to do so were based on distortions and lies.
……………………………..
The Miami Herald tells the real story.
In the big picture scheme of things, this isn’t a story that has great impact on the lives of the American people. It is just another example of how Trump and his administration distract and divide us. But it tells us a lot about the man who currently serves as the president’s chief of staff, and has been heralded as one of the adults in the room.
Kelly made a decision this week. Rather that pull Trump aside after his remarks on Tuesday to counsel him that what a president does to console the families of soldiers who have been killed in service to their country is a private matter, he chose to personally attack a congresswoman with distortions and lies. That speaks volumes about his unwillingness to rein in some of Trump’s worst impulses.
In writing about this, Josh Marshall goes back to his theme that Trump is poison and therefore, damages everyone around him. There is some truth to that. But my problem with that characterization is that it robs Kelly of any personal agency for what he did yesterday. I recognize that people want to honor Kelly because of his military service. I, too, honor anyone who has served admirably, as Kelly seems to have done. But that doesn’t absolve people of accountability for their actions. Kelly just showed us a bit more about who he is as a human being and how he approaches his job as the president’s chief of staff. We should take note of that.
“But my problem with that characterization is that it robs Kelly of any personal agency for what he did yesterday.”
Same. What kind of person works for Trump? Kelly is a power grabber, IMO. He wants to be in charge. He knows the incompetent occupant in the Oval Office makes that possible.
Liza, I’m still in shock how he viciously attacked Frederica Wilson personally. Calling her an empty barrel. He wouldn’t have treated a white woman this way. And he did it before the country. Pains my soul. He’s quiet as a mouse now and won’t apologize. I hate him so much.
I know, SG2. There is no explanation for Kelly’s behavior. Supposing he really is a racist and a misogynist (which he is), wouldn’t you think he would have enough sense not to reveal that in such a public forum? Why did he do this for Trump? The only possible explanation that I see is the power. Without Trump, he is at zero. With Trump, he figures he’s got 3 to 7 years.
https://twitter.com/3ChicsPolitico/status/922673164563427328
https://twitter.com/byst/status/922612331233861633
Myeshia Johnson, DNA test! DNA test! I don’t trust any of these liars.They left him for 48 hrs. This whole situation is suspect.
https://twitter.com/GMA/status/922472329849925632
Oh my sweet Jesus. I was thinking the same thing. We do know they lie. Remember how they lied about Pat Tillman and Jessica Lynch? Whew Jesus! If that’s not his body in the casket….biggest scandal of the century. And they think the black woman will accept what we say. DNA TEST ASAP!
https://twitter.com/rexfordimages/status/922483411851382784
https://twitter.com/rexfordimages/status/922500705365254145
https://twitter.com/ABCPolitics/status/922555598494986241
Sending you and your family positive thoughts and prayers.
Remember, any and everything that POS #45 says or does, or doesn’t do all goes right back to his alliance with RUSSIA.
Rock bottom! That’s where we are…when Gold Star families who have sacrificed ALL are insulted, attacked, smeared & called liars. SHAME on YOU #AMERIKKKA!
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/922455863088033793
and where are the Corny Wests & CRABIS Smiley’s?
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/922474723438678016
THE PLOT THICKENS. #45 & company are knee deep in some SHADY ASS shit with Niger.
You’d think he’s keep his pie-hole zipped and his nubby little fingers off the twitter keys, BUT HE CAN’T. It’s further mayhem, chaos, and distractions.
https://twitter.com/katherinefugate/status/922453567268536320
https://twitter.com/GMA/status/922431492793528320
https://twitter.com/RawStory/status/922495459721187329
McCain is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel or he’s been visited by the GHOSTS of political pasts and future.
Just remember you signed on with your party to hitch on to Palin in 2008.
She started the RACISTS, BIGOTED, IGNORANT, ANTI UNINTELLIGENCE roaming America today
https://twitter.com/DaddyFiles/status/922443157979238400
https://twitter.com/BabsSCL/status/922489023557287936
The longer you wait to apologize to Ms Wilson, the more insulting you become, John Kelly. Apologize & RESIGN. You can’t come back from this.
https://twitter.com/RepWilson/status/922246838832566274
THIS
He’s sent from hell to torment us. Gold Star families have sacrificed so much and he’s adding to their pain. Get this demon out of our White House.
https://twitter.com/CNN/status/922481155961774080
Myeshia Johnson spoke the truth and now Trump and John Kelly are shamed. Enough of this insulting Gold Star families who have sacrificed EVERYTHING. I’m damn tired of it. Trump is unfit for office and the GOP need to get his sorry ass out of that Oval Office.
May God watch over your family, #SgtLaDavidJohnson.
The blessings the Johnson family are receiving and will continue to receive are limitless.