Renowned journalist Bob Woodward has explained his decision to release tapes of 20 interviews with Donald Trump to finalize the “unique danger” the former president poses to American democracy. He said he recognized it.
Woodward said his three books on President Trump are “not far enough.”
The veteran reporter will release an audiobook, The Trump Tapes, on Tuesday. He released excerpts on Sunday of a Washington Post essay he and Carl Bernstein covered in the Watergate scandal that ousted Richard Nixon as president in 1974.
Woodward, 79, has recorded every president since. His three Trump books, Fear, Rage, and Peril, his last book written with Robert Costa, quickly became bestsellers.
But, as Woodward himself admitted, these books, despite chronicling the chaotic four years that culminated in the January 6th Capitol raid, were nevertheless unable to pass judgment. I became media cautious.
Woodward’s decision to now sentence did not garner universal praise.
Oliver Willis, a writer for the progressive news organization American Independent, recently said reporters, including The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman, were allegedly holding critical coverage of Trump’s book. pointed out the criticism of Willis Said Woodward essentially said, “Guys, I have a feeling Trump might be a fascist,” which is “a perfect example of how ivory tower journalism fails to inform the public. ”.
Seth Abramson, author of three books on Trump, Said: “I don’t know how that happened, but a Trump biographer who certainly knew this from the 2016 and 2017 investigations, even though Bob Woodward had just come to this conclusion. , sold 10 to 1. Media failure, publishing failure, or both?”
In the post, Woodward detailed his change of heart.
“There is no turning back in American politics,” he wrote. “Trump was and still is a huge and indelible force with the most powerful political machine in the country. have a group [Joe] Biden.
“In 2020, I ended Rage “When I take his accomplishments as president in full, I can only come to one conclusion: Trump is not the right person for the job.”
“Two years later, I realized I hadn’t gone far enough. Trump is a unique danger. [coronavirus] Against racial injustice, it’s clear he didn’t know what to do.Trump was overwhelmed with the task. “
In June 2020, Woodward asked Trump if he could help write a speech on law and order amid nationwide protests against racial justice.
Trump said, “Someone comes up with an idea. But the idea is mine, Bob. Want to know anything? It’s all mine.”
Woodward wrote: I think that’s how President Trump views the president. everything is mine. The presidency is mine.that is yet my. The only view that matters is mine.
“Trump’s tapes show that after four years as president, there is no doubt that Trump has learned where the levers of power lie, and that total control means absolute control over key Cabinet members and White House offices. It means setting up a strong supporter.
“The current record shows that Trump has led an inflammatory conspiracy to overturn the 2020 elections, one that effectively seeks to destroy democracy.
“Trump is a reminder that it’s easy to destroy what you don’t understand: democracy and the presidency.”
Leftist writers were not uniformly skeptical of Woodward’s motives. In New Republic, Michael Tomasky said he hopes the tape will influence voters in the upcoming midterm elections. In the midterm elections, the Republicans are in control of Mr Trump, poised to take control of the House and possibly the Senate.
Tomasky writes: Tapes that have been intercepted from selective leaks may have nuclear bombs embedded in them.
“I wonder if Woodward will withhold news citations until Tuesday.”
“Let’s hope it happens anyway. What has been striking in recent weeks is that Trump has moved away from the election conversation,” Tomasky added.
Republicans seeking seats in the House and Senate, the governor’s mansion, and key state offices want things to stay the same.
From an investigation into the attack on the Capitol and an attempt to overturn the 2020 election, to a legal battle over keeping White House records, to criminal and civil lawsuits over his business operations, to libel from writers. We are in legal jeopardy on many fronts, even litigation. E. Gene Carroll says Trump raped her.
The former president has denied wrongdoing and is running for a third time in the White House. Woodward told CBS on Sunday that he regrets not putting pressure on Trump about whether to leave the White House if he loses in 2020.
In a related tape, Woodward said: Have you ever wondered…”
Trump interrupted and said: I don’t want to comment on that at this time. Hey Bob, I got all these guys together, I’ll tell you later tonight!”
Woodward said: Of course, this was months before he died. And I slapped myself a little bit. Why didn’t I follow up on that some more?”
