Donald Trump admittedthat weeks before his first confirmed death in the United States, he knew the virus was dangerous, airborne, highly contagious, and “more deadly than the flu.” Journalist Bob Woodward described it in his book. In a series of interviews with Woodward, Trump revealed that he had surprisingly detailed information about the threat of the virus before the neighborhood knew. “Quite amazing,” Trump told Woodward, adding that the coronavirus may be five times more “deadly” than the flu.
Trump’s confession is in stark contrast to his frequent public comments, when he insisted that the virus itself “disappear” and “everything would be fine.” Using Trump’s own words, the book depicts a president who has betrayed public confidence and the most basic responsibilities of his office. In “Rage,” Trump says the president’s job is to “keep the country safe.” But in early February, Trump told Woodward that he knew how deadly the virus was, and in March admitted that he had deliberately withheld the information from the public. “I’ve always wanted to downplay it,” Trump told Woodward on March 19, although he had declared a national emergency a few days earlier. “I still like to play because I don’t want to panic.”
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