A Harford County Gold Star widow who says President Trump understood her loss despite the headlines this week surrounding another call he made to the widow of a man killed in an ambush in Niger.
Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson was there when Myeshia Johnson took that call from the president while en route to receive her husband, Sgt La David Johnson's, remains.
Wilson says she heard the conversation and claims the president was insensitive.
But a Gold Star widow from Edgewood paints a different picture.
"I am so sorry to hear about the whole situation. What a horrible thing, except that he's an unbelievable hero and you know all of the people that served with him are saying how incredible he was."
That's an excerpt from a conversation between Natasha de Alencar and President Trump from April after she lost her husband Staff Sergeant Mark de Alencar--killed in Afghanistan.
"I wanted to call you and just tell you that he's a great hero," President Trump continued.
De Alencar says that five minute call showed the president's concern for service people and their families. De Alencar released the call amid a frenzy of allegations painting President Trump as insensitive.
She replied to the president saying "I want to thank you President Trump. Those words are very kind. He was an amazing man,"
Earlier this week, the news that four special ops soldiers were killed in an ambush in Niger broke, President Trump called Myeshia Johnson-the wife of Sergeant La David Johnson to pay his respects.
"There's no perfect way to make that phone call," said White House Chief of Staff, General John Kelly.
But Wilson says the president completely missed the mark. She was with Johnson while en route to receive her husband's remains. Wilson claims the president said:
"He knew what he signed up for ...But when it happens it hurts anyway."
"That is not a good message to say to anyone who has lost a child at war. You don't sign up because you knew you're going to die. You sign up to serve your country," said Wilson.
Those close to the president say they're stunned a member of congress would listen in to that conversation but never denied Wilson's account.
President Trump says Wilson fabricated the story. Johnson's family corroborates her account.
De Alencar maintains that the president understood and respected her loss and declined to comment on the controversy surrounding the Johnson call.
