ZEBULON, N.C. – A North Carolina father of a fallen soldier now says President Donald Trump sent a $25,000 check to him.

Chris Baldridge is the father of Cpl. Dillon Baldridge, a soldier who was killed in an ambush back in Afghanistan in June.

The news of the check came on the same day that the Washington Post first reported that the Gold Star father spoke to the president months ago and was told he would get the money from Trump personally as well as an online fundraiser for the family, which did not happen.

Spectrum News spoke to Chris Baldridge at his home in Zebulon Wednesday evening.

He did say he would certainly rather have his son back than the money.

The check's delivery came during a week of controversy over the way Trump's empathy for service members.

The aunt of an Army sergeant killed in Niger says Trump showed "disrespect'' to the soldier's loved ones as he telephoned them to extend condolences on Tuesday.