19 Oct 2017

Trump denies saying soldier 'knew what he signed up for'

From Morning Report, 7:27 am on 19 October 2017

US President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to reject criticism of the way he dealt with the widow of a fallen soldier. It took Mr Trump almost a fortnight before connecting with the families of the four special forces soldiers who were killed in an ambush in Niger. And now he's under fire for his choice of words when trying to console the widow of Sergeant La David Johnson. Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson was with Mr Johnson's widow when Mr Trump rang. Overnight, Mr Trump fired back on Twitter, accusing Ms Wilson of fabricating the story and saying he has proof the story is made up. All this on the same day a New York judge begins to hear a civil suit arguing Mr Trump's involvement in business violates the constitutional ban on foreign money. US correspondent in Washington Nina-Maria Potts joins us with the latest analysis.