President Donald Trump on Wednesday reportedly sent a $25,000 gift to the father of an Army corporal killed in Afghanistan on June 10 — making good on a promise made to the Gold Star family in a phone call.
Chris Baldridge, the father of 22-year-old fallen Army Cpl. Dillon Baldridge, of Zebulon, N.C., told The Washington Post he appreciated the president's call and cash offer after his son's death.
"I could not believe he was saying that, and I wish I had it recorded because the man did say this," Baldridge told the Post. "He said, 'No other president has ever done something like this,' but he said, 'I'm going to do it.'"
But Baldridge said the only thing he subsequently received from the White House was a letter of condolence.
"I opened it up and read it, and I was hoping to see a check in there, to be honest," Baldridge told the Post. "I know it was kind of far-fetched thinking. But I was like, 'Damn, no check.' Just a letter saying, 'I'm sorry.'"
Cpl. Dillon Baldridge was killed when an Afghan security officer opened fire on his American counterparts in an insider attack. The Taliban claimed responsibility.
Later Wednesday, the White House confirmed the president's call and gift, insisting "the check has been sent," the Post noted.
CNN reported the check was sent out Wednesday.
In a statement, White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters called it unfair to suggest, as the Post story did, the president did not intend to follow up his promise to Baldridge.
"It's disgusting that the media is taking something that should be recognized as a generous and sincere gesture, made privately by the president, and using it to advance the media's biased agenda," Walters said in the statement, the Post reported.
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