Donald Trump has denied claims he failed to remember the name of a fallen US serviceman during a phone call with the soldier's wife.

Myeshia Johnson, widow of Sgt La David Johnson, told ABC News that the US President made her cry as "he couldn't remember my husband's name" until he looked at a report in front of him.

Mrs Johnson said she heard Mr Trump "stumbling" and added that she was "angry at the tone of his voice".

Mr Trump has rejected the claims, tweeting that the pair had "a very respectful conversation" and he used Sgt Johnson's name "from beginning, without hesitation!"

The phone call first sparked controversy last week as Democrat congresswoman Frederica Wilson claimed Mr Trump told Sgt Johnson's widow that the soldier "knew what he signed up for".


Widow grieves as Sgt Johnson comes home

Ms Wilson, who was by Mrs Johnson's side during the conversation, later said the billionaire "does not possess the character, empathy or grace to be President of the United States".

President Trump said Ms Wilson's claim was "totally fabricated" and in a series of attacks on Twitter described the congresswoman as "wacky".

Speaking to ABC, Mrs Johnson described Ms Wilson's account as "100% correct", adding: "Why would we fabricate something like that?"

Sgt Johnson, 25, was killed along with three other US soldiers in Niger when their group was ambushed by more than 50 Islamist militants on 4 October.

'Other people in the room' during Trump call

The former Walmart employee was initially left behind during an evacuation and his body was retrieved nearly two days later.

Mr Trump was playing golf as Sgt Johnson's body arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on 7 October.

Sgt Johnson enlisted in January 2014 and went on to become a decorated member of the prestigious 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

He had two children with wife Myeshia - a two-year-old son and six-year-old daughter - and the couple were expecting the birth of another girl in January.

Mrs Johnson said she would tell their third child "how awesome her dad was, how a great father he was and how he died as a hero."