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Tenney’s Son Received a Surprise Call From Trump Before Deployment

Sen. David Perdue tipped off the president about deployment of lawmaker's son

Rep. Claudia Tenney’s son left for Iraq on Saturday. (Thomas McKinless/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Rep. Claudia Tenney’s son left for Iraq on Saturday. (Thomas McKinless/CQ Roll Call file photo)

New York GOP freshman Rep. Claudia Tenney’s son received a phone call from President Donald Trump before he deployed to Iraq on Saturday.

Before Marine Corps 1st Lt. Trey Cleary left for a six-month deployment, he was surprised to hear Trump’s voice on the other end of a Friday phone call, Syracuse.com reported.

Tenney had been talking to Georgia Republican Sen. David Perdue while waiting for a bill signing ceremony at the Treasury Department. She mentioned her son’s upcoming assignment and Perdue suggested she say something to the president.

[Murkowski Accidentally Called Trump’s Direct Line]

Perdue told Trump instead, due to Tenney’s reluctance, according to Syracuse.com.

Trump signed a piece of Tenney’s stationary for her son but then suggested that they call him too.

“This is President Trump,” he said. “I’m sitting here with your mother. Thank you for what you do for your country. I’m so proud of you. I want you to do your best. We’re all counting on you.”

The congresswoman recalled to Syracuse.com: “They had quite a long conversation for a couple of minutes. I said, ‘What’s going on?’ (Trump) laughed a little bit. They must have been joking or something. He handed me the phone back and my son said, ‘Oh my God.’”

After Trump signed three executive orders related to rolling back Dodd-Frank regulations, Tenney also received a pen to give to her son.

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