A new book by journalist Bob Woodward says US President Donald Trump seemed to understand the severity of the pandemic, even as he was downplaying the COVID-19 threat to Americans.(The Canadian Press)
A new book by journalist Bob Woodward says US President Donald Trump seemed to understand the severity of the pandemic, even as he was downplaying the COVID-19 threat to Americans.
Trump had insisted earlier this year that the virus was no worse than the seasonal flu and that the U-S government had it totally under control.
But Woodward says in a February phone call with Trump, the president stressed the deadly nature of the novel coronavirus.
Trump is also quoted as saying, ``It's also more deadly than even your strenuous flu.''
Trump told Woodward on March 19 that he deliberately minimized the danger, saying: ``I wanted to always play it down.''
Excerpts from the book were reported Wednesday by The Washington Post and CNN.