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\"We just thought he was saying something nice,\" Jessie Baldridge said. \"We got a condolence letter from him (a few weeks later) and there was no check, and we kind of joked about it. We didn't take to social media and didn't complain.\"

But the story came to national attention after an article by the Washington Post mentioned the president's unusual offer -- and the delay in its completion.

White House officials responded after being asked about the president's promise last week, saying the check was in the mail.

In letter to Baldridge family, shared only w/ @ABC11_WTVD, @realDonaldTrump says \"I hope this will make things a bit easier.\" @ABCWorldNews pic.twitter.com/MFu2DpGlQK

— Jonah Kaplan (@KaplanABC11) October 23, 2017

The officials said \"a substantial process\" is involved in the president's interactions with the public and that the check had been \"in the pipeline\" since Trump's initial call with the family.

The check, shown to WTVD, was dated for October 18, the same date the White House was asked to respond to the Washington Post article.

Spokeswoman Lindsay Walters hit back forcefully at the suggestion that the president didn't intend to follow through on his gesture to the family.

\"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.

It was not clear if the president had made similar offers to other Gold Star families.

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