Trump chief of staff John Kelly defends his words to soldier's widow

President Trump’s chief of staff issued an emotional defense on his boss’ behalf on Thursday, condemning critics and saying that Trump did the best he could when calling the widow of a slain Army sergeant.

“If you’re not in the family, if you have never worn the uniform, if you have never been in combat, you can’t imagine how to make that phone call,” former Marine general John Kelly said from the White House.

Trump has faced intense criticism for his phone call to the widow of Sgt. LaDavid Johnson, a green beret killed two weeks ago in Niger.

John Kelly in his White House role

Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) then said Trump had an insensitive phone call with the Johnson’s widow, Myeshia.

Trump, the lawmaker said, told Johnson’s widow “he knew what he signed up for” and seemingly forgot the sergeant’s name during the call.

The President denied those claims on Wednesday, calling them “fabricated” and he had proof of such.

Speaking to reporters later, he declined to indicate what he actually said or what proof he had.

Kelly said that he initially advised Trump against calling the four families of soldiers killed in Niger.

“It stuns me that a member of Congress would have listened in on that conversation. Absolutely stuns me,” he said.

Kelly added he also told Trump he did not receive a call from President Obama when his son was killed in Afghanistan.

“That is not a criticism,” Kelly said, saying that phone calls from his members of his son’s unit were more important.

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