Donald Trump slammed the new Bob Woodward White House tell-all Fear last night in a series of tweets denying many of the allegations it contains.
Tweeted Trump: “Isn't it a shame that someone can write an article or book, totally make up stories and form a picture of a person that is literally the exact opposite of the fact, and get away with it without retribution or cost. Don't know why Washington politicians don't change libel laws?”
Isn't it a shame that someone can write an article or book, totally make up stories and form a picture of a person that is literally the exact opposite of the fact, and get away with it without retribution or cost. Don't know why Washington politicians don't change libel laws?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018
Trump went on, after retweeting statements by Mattis and Kelly: “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?”
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
Statement from Secretary of Defense, James Mattis: pic.twitter.com/OneaxKCneV
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018
Statement from White House Chief of Staff, General John Kelly: pic.twitter.com/LUN8cDr3N5
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018
CNN's Jim Acosta pointed out that Trump's tweet of Kelly's statement had a revision from one Kelly sent out earlier in the day:
Trump tweeted out an updated statement for Kelly that added the phrase “it's exactly the opposite.” Note this morning's tweet. pic.twitter.com/DUXSnZZN0W
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) September 5, 2018
Trump went on: ‘The already discredited Woodward book, so many lies and phony sources, has me calling Jeff Sessions “mentally retarded” and “a dumb southerner.” I said NEITHER, never used those terms on anyone, including Jeff, and being a southerner is a GREAT thing. He made this up to divide!'
The already discredited Woodward book, so many lies and phony sources, has me calling Jeff Sessions “mentally retarded” and “a dumb southerner.” I said NEITHER, never used those terms on anyone, including Jeff, and being a southerner is a GREAT thing. He made this up to divide!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018
Trump then retweeted two more stories, from right-wing sites Breitbart and Daily Caller, about Mattis's denial:
Jim Mattis Calls Woodward Book 'Fiction': 'Product of Someone's Rich Imagination' https://t.co/HGMDiH98nx via @BreitbartNews
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018
“Secretary Mattis Nukes Woodward Allegations” https://t.co/H5bPjsVXNb
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018
Trump also tweeted the earlier statement from Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
Statement from White House @PressSec, Sarah Sanders: pic.twitter.com/mE73HSi6Rl
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018
He has yet to tweet on Wednesday this morning. If he adds more on the Woodward book, we'll add it here…