The death of a young Army sergeant has been "used" by President Donald Trump and Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson for political points in a "sad moment" for American politics, ex-CIA official Phil Mudd said Thursday.
In remarks on CNN's "Situation Room," the counterterrorism commentator for the cable network said politicians "have a simple responsibility: If you can't shut up, get out of the room."
Mudd appeared disgusted with both the president and the Florida lawmaker and how they had engaged in a war of words over a condolence call from Trump to the widow of Army Sgt. La David Johnson.
"We have two politicians who used the death of a young man to see who can piss higher on a fire hydrant," Mudd said. "And that's American politics? This is a sad moment."
Mudd added, "This is just a rough day."
In an emotional segment, Mudd blamed Trump for being the first to politicize the issue by claiming past presidents did not make calls to the families of fallen soldiers. He was equally harsh with Wilson, who shared the details of the private conversation.
"Why is [Trump] getting out in the wake of the death of people who represent America and saying this is a chance to say I call more people than President [Barack] Obama?" he asked. "How about saying 'I'm sorry that a kid doesn't learn to fish with his dad?' How's that?
"How about a congresswoman who says, 'this is a moment to go after a man I despise in the Oval Office, and I don't care what happened in terms of the actual phone call and whether [White House chief of staff] Gen. [John] Kelly actually did advise the president to say that."
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