Bob Woodward says in brand-new book 'Rage' that Trump confessed to downplaying intensity of the coronavirus
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U.S. President Donald Trump holds a project rally at Smith Reynolds Regional Airport, in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Sept. 8, 2020.
JONATHAN ERNST/Reuters
President Donald Trump acknowledged in February he understood how lethal and infectious the book coronavirus was but did not communicate that information to the American people due to the fact that he did not wish to create a panic, according to Trump interviews cited in a new book.
The recorded interviews, obtained by CNN and based upon a brand-new book entitled “Rage” by journalist Bob Woodward, came out simply weeks before the Nov. 3 governmental election and as Trump’s efforts to fight COVID-19 have come under extreme criticism as being too bit too late.
The Republican president, who has been hammered by Democratic opponent Joe Biden over the slow U.S. federal government reaction to the coronavirus, played down the virus for months as it took hold and spread rapidly throughout the nation.
” I wanted to constantly play it down,” Trump told Woodward on March 19, days after he stated a national emergency situation. “I still like playing it down, since I do not wish to develop a panic.”
Because discussion, Trump likewise told Woodward that some “shocking truths” had simply come out about the infection’ targets: “It’s not simply old, older. Youths too, plenty of young peoplegra
Trump on Wednesday protected his handling of the infection, which has actually killed more than 190,000 people in the United States so far, with new cases surging in the Midwest.
” The reality is I’m a cheerleader for this country. I like our nation and I don’t desire people to be scared,” Trump said at a White Home occasion
” We have actually succeeded from any basic,” he included.
According to the interviews, CNN and The Washington Post reported, Trump understood the infection was specifically deadly in early February.
” It goes through the air,” Trump stated in a recording of a Feb. 7 interview with Woodward. “That’s always harder than the touch. You don’t need to touch things.? The air, you just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed.
” And so that’s an extremely tricky one. That’s a very fragile one. It’s likewise more deadly than even your exhausting flus.”
A week after that interview, Trump said at a White Home rundown that the variety of U.S. coronavirus cases “within a couple days is going to be down near no.”
Some Senate Republicans defended Trump’s coronavirus action on Wednesday.
” His actions of shutting the economy down were the right actions,” Trump ally Lindsey Graham stated. “And I believe the tone throughout that time sort of spoke for itself.”
Woodward carried out 18 interviews with Trump for the book, due to be launched Sept 15.
Other revelations in the book consist of Trump’s disparaging remarks about U.S. military leaders. He drew criticism this week following reports that he denigrated fallen military workers and veterans.
In Woodward’s book, an aide to former Defense Secretary James Mattis heard Trump state in a conference, “my f– ing generals are a lot of pussies” because they cared more about alliances than trade deals. Mattis asked the aide to record the comment in an e-mail, CNN reported.
Concerning the Black Lives Matter movement, Woodward asked Trump his views on the idea of white opportunity and whether he feels separated by that benefit from the plight of Black Americans.
” No. You actually consumed the Kool-Aid, didn’t you? Simply listen to you,” Trump responded, according to media reports on the book. “Wow. No, I don’t feel that at all.”
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Wednesday, citing journalist Bob Woodward, stated President Donald Trump “lied” to the American public about the risk of the coronavirus “on purpose.” Reuters
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