Donald Trump has hit back at the pregnant widow of an American soldier killed in Niger, denying that he made her cry during a condolence call by forgetting her dead husband’s name.

It marks the latest chapter in an ugly political row, raising fresh criticism of the Mr Trump’s fitness to be commander in chief and awkward questions about how four men – including Sgt La David Johnson - died during what should have been a routine operation near the border with Mali.

The latest round of the president’s battle for public opinion with a grieving widow, began with Myeshia Johnson’s first interview since details of the telephone conversation erupted into view last week.

“The president said that he knew what he signed up for but it hurts anyway,” Mrs Johnson told ABC’s Good Morning America on Monday. “And it made me cry because I was very angry at the tone of his voice and how he said it.

“He couldn't remember my husband's name. The only way he could remember my husband's name was he told me he had my husband's report in front of him and that's when he actually said La David.”