President Trump criticized Bob Woodward as working as a “Dem operative” in authoring his new book, shortly after it was revealed he tweeted in 2013 that only the Obama administration could get away with attacking Woodward.
“The Woodward book has already been refuted and discredited by General (Secretary of Defense) James Mattis and General (Chief of Staff) John Kelly. Their quotes were made up frauds, a con on the public. Likewise other stories and quotes,” Trump posted to Twitter Tuesday. “Woodward is a Dem operative? Notice timing?”
The Woodward book has already been refuted and discredited by General (Secretary of Defense) James Mattis and General (Chief of Staff) John Kelly. Their quotes were made up frauds, a con on the public. Likewise other stories and quotes. Woodward is a Dem operative? Notice timing?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018
Woodward’s book, “Fear: Trump in the White House,” is set to be released Sep. 11, but some excerpts have been shared and disputed.
An excerpt from the book claims that White House chief of staff John Kelly called Trump an “idiot,” and said it was pointless to attempt 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, according to Woodward’s book.
Kelly disputed the claims.
“The idea I ever called the President an idiot is not true,” Kelly said in a statement Tuesday. “As I stated back in May and still firmly stand behind: ‘I spend more time with the President than anyone else, and we have an incredibly candid and strong relationship. He always knows where I stand, and he and I both know this story is total BS.’”
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis also denies the claims made against him in the book.
“The contemptuous words about the president attributed to me in Woodward’s book were never uttered by me or in my presence,” Mattis said in a Tuesday statement. “While I generally enjoy reading fiction, this is a uniquely Washington brand of literature, and his anonymous sources do not lend credibility.”
Before Trump sent his tweet saying Woodward’s book was “discredited,” it was revealed that then-businessman Trump tweeted in 2013, “Only the Obama WH can get away with attacking Bob Woodward.”
Only the Obama WH can get away with attacking Bob Woodward.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 1, 2013
The tweet was sent during a dispute between Woodward and Obama’s staff regarding the author’s criticism of the then-president’s messaging on budget cuts.
