The father of a soldier killed in Afghanistan was promised a cheque for $25,000 from Donald Trump’s own account, only to be left dismayed when weeks passed and no funds were sent.

Chris Baldridge’s son, Corporal Dillon Baldridge, was gunned down by an Afghan police officer in a suspected insider attack in June.

Mr Baldridge received a call from the president after his son’s death. The two men discussed Cpl Baldridge’s life and work, and Mr Baldridge said he was particularly saddened by the fact his son died in a crime which appeared more like murder than “in the trenches”.

Mr Baldridge, a construction worker, said he also expressed frustration with the military’s survivor benefits programme: Cpl Baldridge’s ex-wife was listed as his beneficiary, so she would receive the Pentagon’s $100,000 death gratuity, even though Mr Baldridge said “I can barely rub two nickels together.”

Mr Trump immediately said he would write Mr Baldridge a cheque for $25,000. He then received a letter from the president, but no cheque.

“I opened it up and read it, and I was hoping to see a cheque in there, to be honest,” the father said. “I know it was kind of far-fetched thinking. But I was like, ‘Damn, no check.’ Just a letter saying ‘I’m sorry.’ ”