Donald Trump accused famed Watergate reporter Bob Woodward of fabricating quotes and information in his new book - including a claim that the president's former economic chief removed a memo from his desk to prevent a trade deal from collapsing.
'That's false. It's just made up,' Trump told The Daily Caller in a furious response to the book. 'There was nobody taking anything from me.'
Trump said that Woodward has 'credibility problems' and wanted to write the book 'a certain way.'
'It's just nasty stuff. I never spoke to him. Maybe I wasn't given messages that he called,' the president reflected. 'I probably would have spoken to him if he'd called, if he'd gotten through. For some reason, I didn't get messages on it.'
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly also says he never called the president 'an idiot' and an account in which he's said to have made the remark that's in famed Watergate reporter Woodward's new book is 'total BS.'
'The idea I ever called the President an idiot is not true,' Kelly said in a fiery statement put out by the White House.
He reasserted a prior claim that he and Trump have an 'incredibly candid and strong relationship, saying, 'He always knows where I stand, and he and I both know this story is total BS.'
'I'm committed to the President, his agenda, and our country,' he said. 'This is another pathetic attempt to smear people close to President Trump and distract from the administration’s many successes.'
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly says he never called the president 'an idiot,' as journalist Bob Woodward claims, and that an account that's in the famed reporter's new book in which he reportedly slammed the president is 'total BS'
The president's spokeswoman piled on with a statement that said: 'This book is nothing more than fabricated stories, many by former disgruntled employees, told to make the President look bad.'
In her response to Woodward's book, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders argued that 'sometimes' Trump's approach to the office is 'unconventional.'
'But he always gets results,' she said. '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.'
The White House did not hold a televised question and answer session with reporters again on Tuesday, choosing instead to respond to the explosive book that hits shelves on Sept. 11 through emailed statements.
Trump held off on eviscerating Woodward on Twitter, as well, responding to him instead in an interview with The Daily Caller.
The book revealed new accounts of backbiting and insults among Donald Trump's senior staff – with some of the most cutting digs directed at the president and his intellect.
Woodward, relying on his usual methods of deeply sourced reporting with use of information provided on 'background' – presents White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Defense Secretary James Mattis each deriding the president's mental capacity.
Kelly called Trump an 'idiot' and said in a meeting with a small group the president was 'unhinged,' according to the Washington Post, Woodward's longtime employer, which got a copy.
'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,' Kelly said when he blew a fuse at a meeting, according to Woodward.
Bob Woodward's new book has chief of staff John Kelly calling President Trump an 'idiot' who has 'gone off the rails'
In one episode, Trump questioned the utility of U.S. early warning systems in Alaska to identify a nuclear attack from North Korea.
When Trump asked about it, Mattis schooled him: 'We're doing this in order to prevent World War III.
Mattis then told colleagues Trump had the mental ability of 'a fifth- or sixth-grader.'
But Trump also dished back at his subordinates.
He fumed at Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and even reportedly mocked the region he came from, in addition to calling him a 'traitor' for his decision to recuse himself from the Russia probe.
'This guy is mentally retarded. He's this dumb Southerner. … He couldn't even be a one-person country lawyer down in Alabama,' Trump said.
Defense Secretary James Mattis then told colleagues Trump had the mental ability of 'a fifth- or sixth-grader.'
Previous accounts during Trump's first year had former secretary of state Rex Tillerson calling Trump a 'moron,' and Tillerson did not explicitly deny it. This would mean three of Trump's most senior advisors have ridiculed his mental capacity.
The book also recounts efforts by former chief economic advisor Gary Cohn to try to head-off what he considered rash or ill-advised policy moves by Trump.
Cohn 'stole a letter off Trump's desk' to prevent the president from executing a letter of withdrawal from a South Korean trade deal.
The book even ventures into the advice Trump got from his former lead lawyer on the Russia investigation, John Dowd.
'This guy is mentally retarded. He's this dumb Southerner,' Trump reportedly said of his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, who recused himself from the Russia probe
Trump said his former chief of staff, Reince Priebus, scurries around 'like a rat'
Former director of the U.S. National Economic Council Gary Cohn snatched a letter off Trump's desk to keep him from precipitously moving to pull out of a trade deal
Defense Secretary Mattis said Trump acted like 'a fifth- or sixth-grader' after Trump failed to understand the importance of a warning system stationed in Alaska
'Don't testify. It's either that or an orange jumpsuit,' he advised Trump, according to the book.
And Dowd also explained to special counsel Robert Mueller face-to-face why he didn't want his client to testify.
Dowd told him: 'I'm not going to sit there and let him look like an idiot. And you publish that transcript, because everything leaks in Washington, and the guys overseas are going to say, 'I told you he was an idiot. I told you he was a goddamn dumbbell. What are we dealing with this idiot for?''
According to Woodward, Mueller replied: 'John, I understand.'
According to another anecdote, Trump told former staff secretary Rob Porter former chief of staff Reince Priebus was 'like a little rat. He just scurries around.'
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, 80, a billionaire investor, wasn't spared Trump's criticism.
'I don't trust you. I don't want you doing any more negotiations. … You're past your prime,' Trump told him.
The release of yet another bombshell book sent the White House communications shop into immediate emergency mode.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders was seen walking into the Oval Office Tuesday. She declined a request for comment.
The Washington Post released a recorded August 14 phone call between the famously well-sourced author and the president.
In the call, Trump sounds irked that he never was able to speak to Woodward for his book. 'I never got a call. I never got a message,' the president said at first.'
Woodward told him he had lunch with counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway where he pressed her on getting a Trump interview. He also said he sent a request through press aide Raj Shah. He also said he sent a message through Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Trump allowed he did get a brief message from Graham. He put Conway on the call, who said she passed the request through channels, but did not say she spoke to Trump about it.
'Senator Graham actually mentioned it to me quickly on one meeting. And you know, that is true,' Trump said.
'It's really too bad because nobody told me about it and I would have loved to have spoken to you,' Trump said.
'Did you speak to Madeleine,' Trump asked Woodward. 'Madeleine is the key. She's the secret,' Trump said, in a reference to Madeleine Westerhout, his personal secretary. Woodward says he didn't.
'I broke my spear on it trying to get to you,' Woodward tells him later in the call, which Woodward told the president he was recording at the top.
'I talked to Raj. He was going to work it out,' Woodward said, referencing press aide Raj Shah.
Trump put Conway on the call. She told Woodward: 'I did. I presented it to the people here who make those decisions,' without naming names. 'It would have been nice, Bob, if you called for me in my office,' Trump said.
He also diminished the access of his deputy press secretary. 'Rah, I hardly have - I don't speak to Raj.
'That's okay, I'll just end up with another bad book. What can I tell you.'
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/05/i-never-called-trump-an-idiot-claims-john-kelly-in-denial-of-key-claim-in-bombshell-woodward-book/
Main photo article Donald Trump accused famed Watergate reporter Bob Woodward of fabricating quotes and information in his new book – including a claim that the president’s former economic chief removed a memo from his desk to prevent a trade deal from collapsing.
‘That’s false. It’s ...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/04/20/4FB1640800000578-0-image-a-6_1536089506146.jpg
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