Donald Trump's Chief of Staff General John Kelly believes the president is "unhinged" and an "idiot," according to a sensational new book by the Watergate journalist Bob Woodward.
The book, called Fear, is a behind-the-scenes look at the Trump administration built on hundreds of hours of interviews with those who work in it, including people at the most senior levels of government, which were mostly recorded.
In one segment from the book, published in an article by Woodward's employer The Washington Post, Kelly is said to often lose his temper.
During a meeting with a small group of staff, Kelly is alleged to have said about Trump: "He's an idiot. It's pointless to try to convince him of anything. He's gone off the rails. We're in Crazytown. I don't even know why any of us are here. This is the worst job I've ever had."
But in a statement posted to the president's Twitter account, Kelly denied making the comments attributed to him in Woodward's book.
"The idea I ever called the president an idiot is not true, in fact it's exactly the opposite," Kelly said.
"As I stated back in May and still firmly stand behind: 'I spend more time with the president than anyone else, and we have an incredibly candid and strong relationship. He always knows where I stand, and he and I both know this story is total BS. I'm committed to the President, his agenda, and our country. This is another pathetic attempt to smear people close to President Trump and distract from the administration's many successes.'"
Other moments from the book include Trump mocking Attorney General Jeff Sessions' southern accent and calling him "mentally retarded," Trump's own lawyer warning the president he would go to prison if he testified in the Mueller investigation because he is a bad witness, and Trump calling his condemnation of white supremacists in Charlottesville "the biggest fucking mistake I've made."
On behalf of President Trump, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders also lashed out at the book, accusing it of containing falsehoods and lacking credibility.
"This book is nothing more than fabricated stories, many by former disgruntled employees, told to make the president look bad," Sanders said in a statement.
"While it is not always pretty, and rare that the press actually covers it, President Trump has broken through the bureaucratic process to deliver unprecedented successes for the American people.
"Sometimes it is unconventional, but he always gets results. Democrats and their allies in the media understand the President's policies are working and with success like this, no one can beat him in 2020—not even close."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Shane Croucher is a Senior Editor based in London, UK. He oversees the My Turn team. He has previously overseen ... Read more
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