WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump acknowledged to a journalist early in the coronavirus pandemic that he played down the danger of the health crisis despite having evidence to the contrary, according to a new book.
“I wanted to always play it down,” Trump told author Bob Woodward on 19 March, days after he declared a national emergency. “I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”
CNN on Wednesday broadcast interviews Woodward did with Trump for his new book, Rage. The book, to go on sale next Tuesday, just weeks before the 3 November presidential election, comes amid criticism of Trump’s efforts to battle coronavirus.
In the 19 March conversation, Trump told Woodward that some “startling facts” had emerged showing the extent of those at risk: “It’s not just old, older. Young people too, plenty of young people.”
Trump on Wednesday defended his handling of the virus, which has killed more than 190,000 people in the US.
“The fact is I’m a cheerleader for this country. I love our country and I don’t want people to be frightened,” Trump said at the White House. “We’ve done well from any standard.”
Known since February
According to the interviews, CNN and The Washington Post reported, Trump knew the virus was dangerous in early February.
“It goes through the air,” Trump said in a recording of a 7 February 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 so that’s a very tricky one. That’s a very delicate one. It’s also more deadly than even your strenuous flus,” he had said.