explains his decision to release tapes of 20 interviews he had with Donald Trumpfamous journalist Bob Woodward said he finally realized the “unique danger” the former president posed to American democracy.
Woodward said his three books on the Trump presidency “didn’t go far enough”.
The senior reporter will release an audiobook called The Trump Tapes on Tuesday. On Sunday, he published excerpts a try For The Washington Post, the newspaper in which he and Carl Bernstein covered the Watergate scandal that overthrew Richard Nixon’s presidency in 1974.
Woodward, 79, has recorded every president since. Three Trump books – Fear, get angry and dangermost recently written with Robert Costa – they were instant bestsellers.
But, by Woodward’s own admission, these books have been journalistic caution when it comes to making judgments, despite chronicling the four chaotic years that culminated in the January 6 Capitol attack.
Woodward’s decision to sentence was no longer met with universal praise.
Oliver Willis, a writer American IndependentA progressive outlet pointed to recent criticism from reporters, including Maggie Haberman of the New York Times, for allegedly holding important news stories for the Trump books. Willis aforementioned Woodward’s essentially saying “Guys, I feel like Trump could be a fascist” was “a perfect example of how ivory tower journalism fails to inform the public”.
Seth Abramson, author three books that trump aforementioned: “I don’t know how, but knowing this for sure because of his research in 2016 and 2017, Trump biographies were sold 10 to 1 by Bob Woodward, although he’s now come to this conclusion. Media failure or publishing? Or both ?”
In the Post, Woodward changed his mind.
“There is no turning back for American politics” Wrote. “Trump was and still is a great power and an indelible presence with the most powerful political machine in the country. He has the largest group of followers, loyalists and fundraisers, surpassing even the President. [Joe] Biden.
“I finished in 2020 get angry ‘Given his performance as president in its entirety, I can only come to one conclusion: Trump is the wrong man for the job.’
“Two years later, I realized I hadn’t gone far enough. Trump is a unique danger. When you listen to him on everything from foreign policy to politics, [coronavirus] It’s racial injustice, it’s clear she doesn’t know what to do. Trump was fed up with it.”
Woodward said he asked Trump in June 2020 if he had any help writing a speech about law and order during national protests for racial justice.
“I understand people, they come up with ideas. But the ideas are mine, Bob. Want to know something? Everything is mine,” Trump said.
Woodward wrote: “The voice, almost whispering and candid, is very revealing. I believe this is Trump’s view of the presidency. Everything is mine. I am the Presidency. This still Missing is the only opinion that matters.
“Trump Tapes leaves no doubt that, after four years in the presidency, Trump has learned where the arms of power are, and that full control means placing absolute loyalists in key cabinet and White House posts.
“The record now shows that Trump has spearheaded and continues to lead a provocative conspiracy to overthrow the 2020 election, essentially an effort to destroy democracy.
“Trump reminds you of what you don’t understand, how easy it is to break democracy and the presidency.”
Leftist writers were not uniformly skeptical of Woodward’s motives. in the New RepublicMichael Tomasky said he hopes the tapes can sway voters in the upcoming midterm elections, when a Republican party that Trump is close to is poised to take over the House and perhaps the Senate.
Tomasky wrote: “I didn’t expect the media frenzy to be included in this broadcast would bring Trump back into focus as an issue in this election. There may be nuclear bombs embedded in tapes kept away from selective leaks.
“One wonders if Woodward was making newsworthy quotes by Tuesday.”
“Anyway, let’s hope so, because what’s been striking in recent weeks is how much Trump has slipped out of the election talks,” Tomasky said.
Republicans who aim to take House and Senate seats, governors’ mansions, and important government posts will hope things stay that way.
Trump is in legal jeopardy on many fronts, from investigations into the Capitol attack and attempts to overturn the 2020 election, to a legal battle over White House record keeping, criminal and civil lawsuits related to his business activities, and the author’s defamation lawsuit. And Jean Carroll, who said Trump raped her.
The former president denies misconduct and continues to pursue a third White House run. Sunday Woodward told CBS: He regretted not putting pressure on Trump about whether he would leave the White House if he lost in 2020.
In the related tape, Woodward says: “Everyone says Trump will stay in the White House if challenged. Have you thought…”
Trump interrupts: “Well, I’m not – I don’t even want to comment on that, Bob. I do not want to comment on this at this time. Hey Bob, I’ve gathered all these people, I’ll talk to you later tonight!”
Woodward said: “This was the only time he didn’t comment. And that, of course, was months before his loss. And I slapped myself a little: Why didn’t I follow this up a little longer?”
