When former president Donald Trump sat down with Bob Woodward in interviews to prepare for his then-upcoming book, the famed journalist taped the meetings, including audio of his acknowledging that he purposefully downplayed the risks of the coronavirus pandemic. Trump also said that he wasn’t worried about contracting COVID-19; later, he was hospitalized with the disease. Trump ended up sitting down for 18 interviews with the veteran journalist, but now his handlers will accompany him for many interviews during his post-presidency.
Politico reports that the former president is scheduled to sit down for a dozen interviews in the coming weeks with authors writing books about his administration. The list is interesting since Trump, who has lashed out ad nauseam to the press, is sitting down with figures such as New York Times’s Maggie Haberman, The Washington Post’s Philip Rucker, and others.
Interestingly, “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” author Michael Wolff will also interview the former president, according to the news outlet, and if you’ve ever read the book, you know that the author was highly critical of the Trump administration.
“In the coming weeks, Trump is expected to meet with several reporters who spent years tracking his political ambitions or covering his presidency and quest for reelection,” the outlet reports. “The list includes The New York Times’ Jeremy Peters as well as Maggie Haberman; The Wall Street Journal’s Michael Bender; ABC News’ Chief Washington Correspondent Jon Karl; “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” author Michael Wolff; and Washington Post journalists Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig. Some of the authors are capitalizing on the success of their previous Trump books — and the continued interest in his time occupying the White House — by writing a sequel.”
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
“One aide cautioned that the interview list is not set in stone and Trump could still back out on speaking with any of these authors, all of whom will have to venture to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., for their time with the 45th president. But the former president has already sat for some of the interviews,” the report continues.
“We are not discussing particulars of any individual book interviews that President Trump is giving but it’s safe to say that he remains the hottest name in politics and he’s the interview that everyone wants,” senior adviser Jason Miller said. “We’re tracking nearly three dozen post-presidency books where he will be the star.”
According to the outlet, though there are no immediate plans, the former president may write an account of his own.
“The former president will not be alone in the interviews,” the report adds. “Two sources familiar with the planning said Miller and Trump spokesperson Margo Martin are expected to monitor the individual interviews, which will span the next six weeks.”
That’s probably a good idea since Trump admitted to Woodward that the virus is a “plague” that “rips you apart,” and yet he publicly resisted wearing a mask and mocked social-distancing guidelines.
Imagine sitting down for hours with that bloviating, narcissistic rage-machine.
You can read the full report here.
Featured image via Political Tribune gallery
