White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told TPM Monday that President Donald Trump was not criticizing his predecessor when he claimed that former President Barack Obama did not call grieving military families. Trump walked back the claim when a reporter asked him about it.
At a press conference Monday, Trump claimed that “President Obama and other presidents, most of them didn’t make calls,” to the families of fallen service members.
A former Obama White House official strenuously objected to the claim in an email to TPM, as have several other former Obama White House staffers.
“The President wasn’t criticizing predecessors, but stating a fact,” Sanders said in an email to TPM.
“When American heroes make the ultimate sacrifice, Presidents pay their respects,” she continued. “Sometimes they call, sometimes they send a letter, other times they have the opportunity to meet family members in person. This President, like his predecessors, has done each of these. Individuals claiming former presidents, such as their bosses, called each family of the fallen, are mistaken.”
However, Trump himself walked back his stated “fact” by the end of the press conference.
Pressed on how he would know whether Obama had called grieving families or not, Trump said “I don’t know if he did. No, no. I was told that he didn’t often and a lot of presidents don’t.”
“That’s what I was told,” he said. “All I can do is ask my generals.”
Trump also admitted during the press conference that he had not yet been in touch with the families of four fallen Green Berets killed in Niger on Oct. 4.
“I’ve written them personal letters. They’ve been sent, or they’re going out tonight,” he said, adding later: “I’m going to be calling them. I want a little time to pass.”
Sanders did not respond to TPM’s questions about how frequently Trump delays contact with grieving military families for 12 days and counting.
I know the answer: For as long as the press doesn’t call him out on it.
I could certainly be wrong with these people, but I think it is highly possible that the word “fact” has now been officially dumbed down out of existence.
I just realized what type of manufacturing jobs trump is creating on our shores. They are manufacturing…their own version of the truth…and boy…they’ve got the third shift working overtime today.
It’s exhausting.
Sometimes they call, sometimes they send a letter, other times they have the opportunity to meet family members in person.
and sometimes
No Sarah he was not stating a fact. He just took an opportunity to bash President Obama and other former Presidents. Trump needed to make himself look better than his predecessors. All he needed to say was that letters were sent to the families of the soldiers killed in NIger. That’s it.