Donald Trump has denied telling the grieving widow of a US soldier that “he knew what he was signing up for” and insisted the claim is “totally fabricated”.
Florida congresswoman Frederica Wilson said she was in the car with Myeshia Johnson on Tuesday on the way to Miami International Airport to meet the body of Mrs Johnson's husband, Sergeant La David Johnson, when the president called and made the remarks.
After the allegations emerged, the US President tweeted: “Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!”
But Sgt Johnson’s mother, Cowanda Jones-Johnson, said she was in the car and “the statement is true”.
She added that "not only did he disrespect my son" but he was disrespectful to her son's widow.
Ms Jones-Johnson said she did not record the conversation.
Democratic lawmaker Ms Wilson told CNN: "The president evidently is lying, because what I said is true.
"He doesn't even know how to sympathise with people. We're grieving. This is a grieving community.
"It's disgraceful for him to even tweet about this. This gentleman has a brain disorder and he needs to be checked out."
Sgt Johnson was among four servicemen killed in the African nation of Niger earlier this month when militants thought to be affiliated with the Islamic State group ambushed them while they were patrolling with Nigerian troops in unarmoured trucks.
Ms Wilson said she did not hear the entire conversation, and Ms Johnson told her she could not remember everything that was said when asked it about it later.
"When she hung up the phone she looked at me and said, 'He didn't even know his name'. Now that's the worst part," Ms Wilson told CNN.
Mr Trump has been criticised for not reaching out straight away to relatives of the four killed in Niger.
On Monday, he said he had written letters that had not yet been mailed. His aides said they had been awaiting information before proceeding.
