President Trump has raised several concerns regarding Gold Star families during the past months. In a press conference with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Trump was asked about why he had not addressed the ambush in Niger. Trump responded by claiming he wrote letters on the subject matter and would ensure communication with the families of the four fallen US soldiers. A problem arose when he claimed that former President Barack Obama and other past presidents “didn’t make calls.”  Criticism grew rapidly as this false statement prompted accusations of former presidents.

However, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that Trump “wasn’t criticizing predecessors, but stating a fact. When American heroes make the ultimate sacrifice, presidents pay their respects,” Sanders said. “Sometimes they call, sometimes they send a letter, other times they have the opportunity to meet family members in person.” Sanders added, “This president, like his predecessors, has done each of these. Individuals claiming former presidents, such as their bosses, called each family of the fallen, are mistaken.”

The controversy continued to raise questions when Trump did a round of interviews on conservative talk radio Tuesday morning. During the round of interviews, Trump informed the interviewers that he contacted the families of “virtually everybody” that had been killed in the line of duty, continuing to repeat his claims addressing his predecessors, specifically Obama. Later that night, however, Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson informed a news outlet that while on the phone with Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, Trump said, “He knew what he signed up for, but when it happens, it hurts anyway.” This comment, perceived as beyond insensitive, further fanned the flames of the media fire Trump unwittingly started.

On Wednesday, the congresswoman told MSNBC that Johnson was “crying the whole time” and when she hung up the phone, she looked at Wilson and said, “He didn’t even remember his name,” referring to her late husband. A furious Trump responded rapidly, tweeting that she “totally fabricated” her account of his phone call with the widow. White House Head of Staff John F. Kelly came out to defend Trump’s call with Johnson, confirming the story that only a day before Trump had said was “totally fabricated.”

   Media outlets soon began to report on other interactions the President encountered with Gold Star families. In one Washington Post story, a Gold Star father said Trump offered him $25,000 after his son was killed. Once the Post contacted the father, he claimed Trump had not followed through with his offer. Later reports claim that Trump sent a check the very same day the article appeared. Kelly, who happens to be a retired Marine Corps general, said he advised Trump on what to say during calls he made to the families of fallen soldiers.

Kelly also made sure to throw in a few jabs at Wilson for informing the press about the content of the phone call, calling her an “empty barrel” whose “selfish behavior” stunned him.

“It stuns me that a member of Congress would have listened in to that conversation,” he said. “Absolutely stuns me. And I thought at least that was sacred.”

That night, Trump sent out another tweet saying that “Fake News is going crazy with wacky Congresswoman Wilson (D), who was SECRETLY on a very personal call, and gave a total lie on content.” While the President was busy tweeting, more Gold Star families came forward with their own stories of how Trump neglected to contact them. The Associated Press reached out to the families of all 43 military service members who have died on duty during the Trump presidency, making contact with around half of these families. Of the families that would discuss their contact with the President after the passing of their family member, only nine claimed they had heard from Trump either by phone call or letter, while nine others said they had not.

This is not the first time President Trump has offended the families of fallen service members. After their appearance at the Democratic National Convention last year, Trump attacked Khizr Khan and his wife Ghazala. Kahn’s son, Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed by a suicide bomber while in Iraq in 2004. Trump questioned the Khans’ religion in numerous TV appearances and his favorite social media network, Twitter.

The question remains as to when the brave men and women who fight to keep our nation safe will get the respect they deserve. When will our President eventually learn his words have power, especially on Twitter? Trump has never served in the military and it seems as though he has no clue what service and sacrifice means, nor does he understand the gravity of what the brave members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families risk every day for those at home.