Recordings Reveal Trump Knew How Dangerous Coronavirus Was While Downplaying It

Recordings reveal that Trump knew how dangerous the coronavirus was and that he was intentionally trying to downplay it. The White House said, "The president never downplayed the virus." Trump said to Woodward in March, "I wanted to always play it down." Trump to Woodward on February 7th: the coronavirus "is deadly stuff." A new book reveals that Trump knew in early February that the coronavirus was deadly, dangerous and highly contagious." Woodward book says that Trump was wanted in January, by NSA O'Brien, that the coronavirus posed a big threat. O'Brien told CNN in May that the coronavirus risk was not initially understood. 

A source says that White House officials warned Trump against speaking to Bob Woodward; Kushner and Graham said it was a good idea and encouraged him to do it. The new Woodward book: Mattis told Coats that they may have to take "collective action" against Trump. Mattis called Trump "dangerous and unfit" according to the new Woodward book. 

"I don't want to create panic," Trump on the revelation that he downplayed the coronavirus. Trump's campaign officials scramble to respond to the Woodward tapes. A source says that many in Trump's campaign are shocked by the president's comments. 

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