At the desk of the White House, on September 10, 2020, Donald Trump tried to extinguish the controversy ignited by his words in Bob Woodward's book on the coronavirus.
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Sipa USA / SIPA
It is undoubtedly the ex-adviser to George W. Bush, Karl Rove, who sums it up best: “Each president participates in a book by Bob Woodward, they grant him numerous interviews and end up regretting it.
Like his four predecessors, Donald Trump gave himself - in 18 recorded telephone conversations - to the American journalist who helped, with his colleague Carl Bernstein, to bring down Richard Nixon almost 50 years ago.
In his book
Rage
, to be released on September 15, Woodward paints a portrait of a president beset on all sides by a pandemic, economic crisis and unprecedented protests against racism.
And less than two months before the presidential election, Donald Trump could well agree with Karl Rove, with statements already exploited by Joe Biden.
1.Coronavirus: Trump intentionally "downplayed" the severity of the pandemic
On February 7, it is Donald Trump who calls Bob Woodward, according to the latter, to “pour out”.
While assuring the American public that the coronavirus is "like a flu" and "will go away on its own as if by a miracle", Donald Trump tells the journalist that the Covid is "a deadly thing", perhaps " five times more ”than the flu.
Then, on March 19, Trump explained to him: "I've always wanted to minimize" gravity, "I still like to minimize it because I don't want to create panic".
“Donald Trump knew.
He lied to us for months.
And as a deadly virus devastated our country, it failed in its mission - on purpose.
It is a betrayal of the American people ”, attacked Joe Biden Wednesday.
Thursday, Donald Trump got angry at his daily press conference, assuring “not to have lied” to the American people, and calling the journalist's question “shame”.
2. North Korea: He finds Kim Jong-un "so smart", and the North Korean leader reportedly told him in detail how he had his uncle killed
The romance between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un seems to be a reality.
The American president says he finds the North Korean leader "so intelligent" and ensures that the latter compared their alchemy to a "magic force" out of "a fantasy film".
Kim Jong-un would also have told him in detail how he had his uncle killed to better establish his power.
3.Assassination of Khashoggi: Trump "saved the buttocks" of MBS against Congress
American intelligence concluded that Mohammed ben Salman had probably ordered the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Donald Trump, he repeats in a loop that MBS "denied", without getting wet.
But he assures Bob Woodward that he "saved the buttocks" of the crown prince: "I managed to get Congress to leave him alone.
"
4. Racism: Trump has no desire to try to "understand the anger" of African Americans
The reporter asked him if he felt "systemic racism" was a problem in America.
"I think it is everywhere, but less here than elsewhere", replied the president.
Woodward insisted on the "white privilege" that he, a son of a judge, and Donald Trump, the son of a millionaire, enjoyed.
Don't they have a responsibility to seek “to understand the anger and the pain” of African Americans who demonstrate?
Trump's response: “Wow, no, I don't feel that at all.
You've really been brainwashed.
"
5.Barack Obama: Trump finds his predecessor "overrated" and "not very smart"
The two men do not like each other - according to legend, Donald Trump decided to be a candidate in 2011, the night Barack Obama made fun of him during the White House correspondents' dinner.
Donald Trump considers his predecessor "overrated" and "not very intelligent".
He also displayed his satisfaction at having unraveled by decree “90% of the things he did”.
6. Nuclear: A secret program with “never seen before” weapons
The American president, who never misses an opportunity to brag, teased, claiming to have "developed a nuclear program such as has never been seen in this country."
Stuff Putin or Xi have never heard of, it's incredible ”.
Woodward then contacted sources at the Pentagon who confirmed.
And expressed their surprise that the president spoke of a classified program.
World
Coronavirus: In a recording, Trump acknowledges having wanted to "minimize" the severity of Covid-19
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US presidential election