Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward sat down with Bill Maher on Friday to talk about the role fear has played in Trump's presidency.
The veteran journalist released his book, 'Fear', in September which was built on interviews with the President and his closest aides.
"We asked about what real power is, and he said real power is fear," Woodward said. "Since then I thought, this being out of his mouth, it's a way to scare the be-Jesus out of people."
Though it was apparent to the Watergate journalist that Trump fed off of fear, there was one trait he had that gave Woodward "a chill."
Reflecting on an exchange between Trump and Defense Secretary Ash Carter – who has since been replaced by James N. Mattis – the president asked, "why are we investing in NATO," and Carter responding with, "we are trying to prevent WWIII."
"Think about that, this is a year in office, that the president has to be tutored in what the job is – job number one, prevent WWIII," Woodward said. "I've done this for 47 years, and when I learned that, I got a chill."
"Going back to Watergate, 45 years ago, what was said about Nixon was that he had a lust for political power. Now, Trump understands lust, to say the least, and it is a part of his being to get power over people -- to crush and demean them," Woodward added.
Watch the full interview here:
Uncommon Knowledge
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