Donald Trump 'has no understanding of human emotions', according to Bush ethics chief

President Trump has been accused of lacking empathy (Reuters)
President Trump has been accused of lacking empathy (Reuters)

The ethics chief during the Presidential administration of George W Bush has hit out at President Donald Trump after he used the death of John Kelly’s son to defend his claim that Barack Obama failed to call the families of fallen soldiers.

After being criticised for failing to contact the families of soldiers killed in Niger, Trump used the death of John Kelly’s son in 2010 to support his claim that President Obama didn’t call the families of fallen soldiers.

The claim has now been criticised by Richard Painter, the former ethics chief for Bush, who says that it shows that Trump has ‘no empathy’ for others.

‘I think we’ve seen over and over again that President Trump has no empathy for those who serve abroad in our wars, who have been captured like John McCain, or those who have been killed or the families of those who have been killed, in the case of Gen. Kelly,’ he said.

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‘He has no empathy, no understanding of human emotions that people go through because he stayed home during Vietnam with his sore foot or whatever it was.’

The latest criticism comes after comments reportedly made by President Trump to the widow of a soldier who was killed in an ambush in Niger.

According to Democrat representative Frederica Wilson, President Trump told the grieving widow of green beret David T Johnson that her husband was aware of the risks he was taking.

Ms Wilson said: ‘Basically he said, “Well, I guess he knew what he signed up for, but I guess it still hurt.’

President Trump has since denied making the controversial comments.