Bob Woodward: ‘Donald Trump is a danger to the country’
Bob Woodward, one of the reporters involved in exposing the Watergate scandal in 1972 tells The News Agents about his relationship with Donald Trump, and why the Republican has “no plan” for power.
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In brief…
- Woodward says the ‘danger’ of Donald Trump is his lack of a plan, and how a thought that crosses his mind can become policy.
- He describes the Republican nominee as someone who demands “one person rule” and has no advisors working closely with him.
- He says the changes made to the Supreme Court by Donald Trump mean that he is uncertain whether Watergate could ever happen again.
What’s the story?
Donald Trump is a “danger” to America, and would enter the White House with “no plan”, says Bob Woodward, one of the men involved in exposing the Watergate Scandal in 1972.
A reporter for The Washington Post since 1971, Woodward was in the White House press briefing room during Trump’s presidency. He describes his “unusual” relationship with the Republican, where he could call the former president any time, and vice versa.
“He's a danger to the country,” Woodward tells The News Agents.
“He has no plan. He will say things that come into his mind at the moment. He doesn't plan. That's the danger.”
Woodward adds that Trump will just pull something “off the shelf” and decide to make it policy.
He blames this on Trump having no “inner circle” of advisors or anyone to keep him on track at any given moment.
“Trump wants total loyalty. He doesn't want advice,” Woodward says.
“He doesn't want somebody that will weigh and vet decisions.
“There are a few people, but they come and go, and this is the danger of one person rule, and that's Trump.”
Could Watergate happen today?
The Watergate Scandal involved officials from Republican Richard Nixon’s team breaking into Democratic Party offices to photograph documents and bug the building, in an attempt to get Nixon re-elected after his first term as president.
Nixon’s involvement in the cover-up resulted in his indictment and ultimate resignation from the White House.
He is the only US president to resign from office.
When asked if Watergate could happen today, he says that’s “a history question”, and suggests the changes in the Supreme Court between 1972 and today make it impossible to answer with any confidence.
“As we know Trump appointed three of the justices who are in the Supreme Court majority,” he says.
“So hang on to your hat. Who knows what's coming from the Supreme Court. Who knows what's coming from Trump?
“Who knows what's coming from American politics in the next even in the next couple of weeks?”
Trump’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic
Woodward describes Trump’s response to the pandemic as “despicable”.
“He was warned. He was told that this is going to be a major issue in the United States, and he kept brushing it off. He'd say, 'Oh, don't worry. It's going to go away’,” he says.
He compares Trump’s refusal to speak with Dr Anthony Fauci (former Chief Medical Advisor to the President of United States) during the coronavirus pandemic, being the same as refusing to speak to a general involved in running a war.
Woodward reveals Trump would say “‘Well, this is a busy White House, I don't have time for that.’” When asked about his interactions with Fauci.
He says these experiences lead him to believe Trump “does not understand the presidency and its responsibilities.”
“I think he doesn't really understand democracy.”
What’s his outlook for the future of American democracy?
When it comes to the future of America and its democracy, Woodward says it is something you “have to worry about”.
“Will the wisdom of the ages descend on our political leaders? Not necessarily, I think there's no guarantee of that,” he concludes.
“Trump, as I emphasise, has no plan. He will just come up with things. And there's really no one in his inner circle who can give him the kind of advice that a man like Donald Trump needs?
“Trump sails on his own.”