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Washington:
US President Donald Trump acknowledged in February he knew how lethal and contagious the novel coronavirus was however didn’t convey that data to the American folks as a result of he didn’t wish to create a panic, in keeping with Trump interviews cited in a brand new e book.
The recorded interviews, obtained by CNN and based mostly on a brand new e book titled “Rage” by journalist Bob Woodward, got here out simply weeks earlier than the November three presidential election and as Trump’s efforts to battle COVID-19 have come underneath intense criticism as being too little too late.
The Republican president, who has been hammered by Democratic opponent Joe Biden over the gradual US authorities response to the coronavirus, performed down the virus for months because it took maintain and unfold shortly throughout the nation.
“I wanted to always play it down,” Trump instructed Woodward on March 19, days after he declared a nationwide emergency. “I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”
In that dialog, Trump additionally instructed Woodward that some “startling facts” had simply come out in regards to the virus’ targets: “It’s not just old, older. Young people too, plenty of young people.”
Trump on Wednesday defended his dealing with of the virus, which has killed greater than 1,90,000 folks within the United States up to now, with new instances spiking within the Midwest.
“The fact is I’m a cheerleader for this country. I love our country and I don’t want people to be frightened,” Trump mentioned at a White House occasion
“We’ve done well from any standard,” he added.
According to the interviews, CNN and The Washington Post reported, Trump knew the virus was particularly lethal in early February.
“It goes through the air,” Trump mentioned in a recording of a Feb. 7 interview with Woodward. “That’s always tougher than the touch. You don’t have to touch things. Right? But the air, you just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed.
“And in order that’s a really tough one. That’s a really delicate one. It’s additionally extra lethal than even your strenuous flus.”
A week after that interview, Trump said at a White House briefing that the number of US coronavirus cases “inside a pair days goes to be down near zero.”
Some Senate Republicans defended Trump’s coronavirus response on Wednesday.
“His actions of shutting the financial system down had been the correct actions,” Trump ally Lindsey Graham said. “And I believe the tone throughout that point form of spoke for itself.”
Woodward conducted 18 interviews with Trump for the book, due to be released Sept 15.
Other revelations in the book include Trump’s disparaging remarks about U.S. military leaders. He drew criticism this week following reports that he denigrated fallen military personnel and veterans.
In Woodward’s book, an aide to former Defense Secretary James Mattis heard Trump say in a meeting, “my f—ing generals are a bunch of pussies” because they cared more about alliances than trade deals. Mattis asked the aide to document the comment in an email, CNN reported.
Regarding the Black Lives Matter movement, Woodward asked Trump his views on the concept of white privilege and whether he feels isolated by that privilege from the plight of Black Americans.
“No. You actually drank the Kool-Aid, did not you? Just take heed to you,” Trump replied, according to media reports on the book. “Wow. No, I do not really feel that in any respect.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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