Politics: John Kelly defends Trump's controversial call to a Gold Star family and confirms that Obama didn't call after his son died

White House chief of staff John Kelly said that he advised President Donald Trump on what to say to the widow of a US soldier killed in Niger this month.

White House chief of staff John Kelly, a former Marine Corps general whose son was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2010, responded to a firestorm of criticism President Donald Trump faced after a congresswoman alleged that Trump told the widow of a slain soldier that her husband "must have known what he signed up for."

Kelly defended Trump, saying that there is "no perfect way to make that phone call" to the family of Sgt. La David Johnson, one of four US Army Special Forces troops killed in action during a mission in Niger earlier this month, but that the president intended to commend Johnson's bravery.

"I told him, 'Sir, there's nothing you can do to lighten the burden on these families," Kelly told reporters at a Thursday afternoon press briefing.

Kelly said that he advised Trump based on his own experience of losing his son.

"He's a brave man, a fallen hero, he knew what he was getting himself into because he enlisted, there's no reason to enlist, he enlisted," Kelly said of Johnson. "And it was where he wanted to be, exactly where he wanted to be with exactly the people he wanted to be with when his life was taken. That was the message that was transmitted."

Rep. Frederica Wilson said she overheard Trump make the controversial remark on a phone call to Johnson's widow, Myeshia Johnson, on Tuesday.

On Wednesday morning, Trump accused Wilson of lying about what he said, adding that he has "proof" to support his denial.

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

Wilson responded to Trump's accusation on Wednesday morning, calling the president "a sick man" who "feels no pity or sympathy for anyone."

Kelly also responded to Trump's suggestion that former President Barack Obama did not call Kelly after his son was killed in action.

The chief of staff confirmed that he told Trump that Obama did not call him, but said "that was not a criticism" of Obama.

"He asked me about previous presidents and I said, 'I can tell you that president Obama ... didn't call my family," Kelly said. "That was not a criticism. That was simply to say, 'I don't believe President Obama called.'"

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White House chief of staff John Kelly said that he advised President Donald Trump on what to say to the widow of a US soldier killed in Niger this month. Read Full Story