On audio Trump admitted he knew weeks before the first confirmed US coronavirus death that the virus was dangerous, airborne, highly contagious and "more deadly than even your strenuous flus," and that he repeatedly played it down publicly, according to legendary journalist Bob Woodward in his new book "Rage."
"This is deadly stuff," Trump told Woodward on February 7.
This isn't just something from Woodward's book. Trump is on audio telling Woodward he lied to the American people about the coronavirus. Trump's comments are the most stunning I have ever heard coming from our President, any President.
"This is deadly stuff," Trump told Woodward in a Feb. 7 conversation."You just breathe the air and that's how it's passed. And so that's a very tricky one. That's a very delicate one. It's also more deadly than even your strenuous flu."
"I wanted to always play it down," Trump told Woodward on March 19, "I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic."
First, those comments from Trump illustrate a total lack of leadership on his part. Americans were told the truth after Pearl Harbor, and the U.S. prevailed. Americans were told the truth after 9/11, and in every respect, including our economy, the U.S. prevailed. Unlike our President, the American people have shown they can handle the truth.
Second, Trump is a lying sonofabitch. He lied to the American people because he hoped the virus would go away so he can win reelection.
In his defense today, as he always does, the desperate Trump created the absurd, and then commented on the absurd he imagined. Bearing in mind the examples of Pearl Harbor and 9/11 and Trump's total lack of faith in the people he is governing, he said this.
"I don't want people to be frightened, I don't want to create panic, as you say, and certainly I'm not going to drive this country or the world into a frenzy. We want to show confidence, we want to show strength, we want to show strength as a nation, and that's what I've done. And we've done very well."
The irony is palpable.
It is Trump who did not show confidence. It is Trump who did not show strength.
Trump went around the press office to have 18 interviews with Woodward, all of them on audio for the American people to hear
... and we are!
Why in the world did Trump consent to these interviews that make him look like an idiot?
There are only two possibilities. One, he is just going through motions because he really doesn't want another four years of this. If he wants to be President, his own actions will cost him a great deal.
Two, Trump has a severe mental problem, possibly a bipolar disorder.
For more on the revealing admissions use this link.
'Play it down': Trump admits to concealing the true threat of coronavirus in new Woodward book