Trump denied today the account of a Democratic congresswoman who says he told the widow of a US serviceman killed in an ambush in Niger that

“he knew what he signed up for, but I guess it still hurt.“

Trump tweeted today,

“Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!“

Florida Rep. Frederica Wilson, made the claim Tuesday night, saying she was present when the call took place. Sgt. La David Johnson was among the four US soldiers killed by enemy fire in an October 4 ambush in Niger.

Wilson said Wednesday morning on CNN‘s New Day

“I have proof, too: this man is a sick man.“

She said that Johnson’s widow “broke down” after her call with Trump, saying he

“didn’t even know his name.“

Wilson told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota, noting that she was the elementary school principal of Johnson’s father and mentored the sergeant,

“I have no reason to lie (to) the President of the United States with a dead soldier in my community. I have no time, I have no motive.“

It took Trump days to publicly discuss the attacks, and earlier this week, he falsely claimed that former President Barack Obama didn’t call families of fallen service members, later suggesting reporters contact his chief of staff, John Kelly, whose son was killed in Afghanistan, to ask if Obama reached out to him.

Johnson’s body was returned home to the Miami area late Tuesday afternoon, with the plane receiving a water cannon salute as it arrived near the gate.

The call from the President to Johnson’s widow came shortly before Johnson’s casket arrival, Wilson said on “CNN Tonight” Tuesday night.

“Basically, he said, ‘Well, I guess he knew what he signed up for, but I guess it still hurt,'”

Wilson told WPLG:

“Yeah, he said that. You know … that is something that you can say in a conversation, but you shouldn’t say that to a grieving widow. Everyone knows when you go to war you could possibly not come back alive, but you don’t remind a grieving widow of that. That is so insensitive. So insensitive.

That is what stood out in everyone’s heart. You don’t say that. He is the President of the United States. This is a soldier who gave his life for his country. He is a hero in our minds, in our community’s minds. That is an insult to the entire Miami Gardens community, to the entire District 24, to Miami-Dade County and to this nation. And I hope he didn’t say that to the other three families.“

(Photo, screengrab YouTube; via CNN)