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Trump denies telling fallen soldier's widow that husband 'knew what he signed up for'

Update, 12:39 p.m. ET Wednesday: President Donald Trump on Wednesday afternoon staunchly denied an account by a congresswoman and the family of a fallen U.S. Army soldier that claimed the president told the soldier's widow that her husband "knew what he signed up for" before his death.

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida, first spoke about the comment, which she said was made during a call Tuesday to La David Johnson’s widow, Myeshia Johnson.

“I didn’t say what that congresswoman said – didn’t say it at all,” the president told reporters Wednesday. “I did not say what she said, and I’d like her to make the statement again because I did not say what she said.”

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Wilson said Trump told Myeshia Johnson that her husband “knew what he signed up for” in a phone call put on speakerphone as she, Wilson and others headed to Miami International Airport on Tuesday to meet the body of La David Johnson.

"She knows it and she now is not saying it," Trump said. "I had a very nice conversation with the woman, the wife, who sounded like a lovely woman."

Despite the president's claim, Wilson has not backed down from her account. She highlighted her position on Twitter shortly after Trump spoke.

UPDATE, 12:08 p.m. ET Wednesday: The family of a fallen U.S. Army soldier killed earlier this month in an ambush in Niger on Wednesday confirmed that President Donald Trump told the soldier's widow that her husband "knew what he signed up for."

"Yes the statement is true," Cowanda Jones-Johnson, the mother of slain Sgt. La David Johnson, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida, first spoke about the comment, which she said was made during a call Tuesday to La David Johnson's widow, Myeshia Johnson. The president had called Myeshia Johnson as she, Wilson and others were on their way to Miami International Airport, to meet the body of La David Johnson.

Trump has denied the report.

"I was in the car and I heard the full conversation," Jones-Johnson told the AP, adding that the president disrespected her son, her daughter-in-law and her husband.

The president said Wednesday that he had proof that he didn't tell Myeshia Johnson that her husband "knew what he signed up for," although he did not elaborate.

UPDATE, 11:22 a.m. ET Wednesday: U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida, said on Wednesday morning that she was not the only one to hear President Donald Trump tell the widow of a fallen soldier that her husband "knew what he signed up for" after the president accused her of lying about her account.

"(I) was not the only one who heard and was dismayed by his insensitive remarks," Wilson wrote in a tweet Wednesday morning.

Wilson told CNN that Trump was on speakerphone when he made the remark Tuesday to Myeshia Johnson, the widow of U.S. Army Sgt. La David Johnson. The president had called Myeshia Johnson as she, Wilson and others were on their way to Miami International Airport, to meet the body of La David Johnson.

La David Johnson was one of four Army soldiers killed earlier this month in an ambush in Niger.

Wilson told CNN that Trump's comments were overheard by others in the car, including the driver, the master sergeant, her press person and the widow's aunt and uncle.

"The president, evidently, is lying, because what I said is true," Wilson said. "I have no reason to lie on the President of the United States, with a dead soldier in my community -- I have no time, I have no motive."

Trump denied telling Myeshia Johnson that her husband "knew what he signed up for" and claimed to have proof to refute Wilson's account. He did not elaborate.

UPDATE, 7:38 a.m. ET Wednesday: President Donald Trump took to Twitter early Wednesday to deny reports that he told a fallen soldier's widow that her husband "knew what he signed up for."

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

The tweet was referring to U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida., who said she heard Trump say the words when he offered his condolences to Army Sgt. La David Johnson’s widow, Myeshia Johnson.

Wilson stood by her remarks.

"I don't know what kind of proof he's talking about. I'm not the only person that was in the car," Wilson told CNN. "I have proof, too. This man is a sick man and he feels no pity for no one."

ORIGINAL STORY: President Donald Trump reportedly told the pregnant widow of Army Sgt. La David Johnson that "he knew what he signed up for..." in a call Tuesday afternoon according to WPLG.

Johnson's body, one of the four Army servicemen killed in action in Niger on Oct. 4, returned to the United States Tuesday. The flight bearing Johnson's remains landed at Miami International Airport, according to WPLG.

The plane was met by Johnson’s widow, Myeshia Johnson, who is pregnant with the couple’s third child. Also present was an honor guard and local politicians.

Trump called Johnson to offer his condolences, telling her that her fallen husband “knew what he signed up for,” adding that “when it happens it hurts anyway,” a congresswoman who said she was present for the call said.

That response is generating some controversy, with some saying the president was unnecessarily callous and blunt. U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida., said she heard the call with Trump and couldn’t believe her ears.

“It’s so insensitive. He should have not have said that. He shouldn’t have said it,” she said.

Also killed in action on Oct. 4 were Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright, Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson and four soldiers from Niger, according to the New York Daily News. Two other Americans were wounded.

Rare.us contributed to this report.