It looks like WaPo journalist Bob Woodward’s new book is another bash-fest symptomatic of Trump Derangement syndrome.
In his upcoming book, Fear: Trump in the White House, Woodward describes a White House in chaos where everyone is on edge. Staffers claim the president is “unhinged,” while close Trump confidantes speak ill of him behind his back.
According to Woodward, Chief of Staff John Kelly has called Trump “an idiot.”
From a WaPo article about the book:
In one small group meeting, Kelly said of Trump: “He’s an idiot. It’s pointless to try to convince him of anything. He’s gone off the rails. We’re in Crazytown. I don’t even know why any of us are here. This is the worst job I’ve ever had.”
A passage in Fear also claims President Trump at one point called Attorney General Jeff Sessions a “mentally retarded” “dumb Southerner.”
“‘This guy is mentally retarded. He’s this dumb Southerner,’” Woodward quotes Trump as saying, indicating the president also made fun of his southern accent. “‘He couldn’t even be a one-person country lawyer down in Alabama,’” Trump supposedly remarked.
Elsewhere in the book, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis reportedly describes the president’s comprehension as that of “a fifth or sixth grader.” It also elaborates on former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reportedly calling Trump “a fucking moron.”
In another passage, Trump is quoted as calling the Russian Witch Hunt a “goddamned hoax,” and purportedly admitted he does not want to testify in the FBI’s collusion probe.
Speaking to Woodward in an August 14 phone call, released by The Washington Post Tuesday, Trump pushed back against claims in Fear, telling Woodward his book was likely a “negative” and “inaccurate” portrayal of his White House — especially since he was unable to be reached for comment.
Woodward: I’ve got to go talk to people and see them outside of the White House and outside of their offices, and gained a lot of insight and documentation. And it’s — you know, it’s a tough look at the world and your administration and you.
Trump: Right. Well, I assume that means it’s going to be a negative book. But you know, I’m some — I’m sort of 50 percent used to that. [Laughter] That’s all right. Some are good and some are bad. Sounds like this is going to be a bad one.
Asked by the president if he named his sources, Woodward did not confirm he “named names” in the book.
Woodward: …I think there’s nothing in this book that doesn’t come from a firsthand source. Is that correct, Evelyn?
Woodward Assistant Evelyn Duffy: I believe that’s —
Trump: But are you naming names? Or do you just say sources?
Woodward: Yeah, well, it names real incidents, so . ..
Trump: No, but do you name sources? I mean, are you naming the people, or just say, people have said?
Woodward: “I say, at 2:00 on this day, the following happened, and everyone who’s there, including yourself, is quoted. And I’m sorry I didn’t get to ask you about these,” Woodward told the president.
Trump has railed against unnamed “sources” providing anonymous tips to the media since the 2016 presidential campaign, calling most of the information provided by “sources” fake news and saying in most cases the sources are fabricated and non-existent.
Remember, don't believe "sources said" by the VERY dishonest media. If they don't name the sources, the sources don't exist.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016
NBC NEWS is wrong again! They cite “sources” which are constantly wrong. Problem is, like so many others, the sources probably don’t exist, they are fabricated, fiction! NBC, my former home with the Apprentice, is now as bad as Fake News CNN. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 4, 2018
When you see “anonymous source,” stop reading the story, it is fiction!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2018
In a Tuesday article, President Trump’s former attorney John Dowd told The Washington Examiner he’s misquoted by Woodward in a passage where he’s quoted as thinking the president is “a fucking liar.”
Fear hits bookstores on September 11.
UPDATE: The White House, Chief of Staff John Kelly, Defense Secretary James Mattis, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and President Trump have all released statements claiming Woodward’s book is full of “fabricated stories” and lies.
The White House’s statement, via CNBC:
“This book is nothing more than fabricated stories, many by former disgruntled employees, told to make the President look bad. While it is not always pretty, and rare that the press actually covers it, President Trump has broken through the bureaucratic process to deliver unprecedented successes for the American people.”
“Sometimes it is unconventional, but he always gets results. Democrats and their allies in the media understand the President’s policies are working and with success like this, no one can beat him in 2020 – not even close.”
Chief of Staff John Kelly’s statement:
Statement from White House Chief of Staff, General John Kelly: pic.twitter.com/LUN8cDr3N5
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018
Statement from Secretary of Defense General James Mattis:
Statement from Secretary of Defense, James Mattis: pic.twitter.com/OneaxKCneV
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018
A statement from White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
Statement from White House @PressSec, Sarah Sanders: pic.twitter.com/mE73HSi6Rl
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018
And one last note from the president himself:
The Woodward book has already been refuted and discredited by General (Secretary of Defense) James Mattis and General (Chief of Staff) John Kelly. Their quotes were made up frauds, a con on the public. Likewise other stories and quotes. Woodward is a Dem operative? Notice timing?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adan.salazar.735
Audio: #Trump Calls Out Bob Woodward For Lying In New Book#AlexJonesShow #infowars🚫 #TuesdayThoughts #BoycottNike #1A #USA 🇺🇸https://t.co/dL4w4b9cKD
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) September 4, 2018
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