Woodward writes that Coats “continued to harbor the secret belief, one that had grown rather than lessened, although unsupported by intelligence proof, that Putin had something on Trump.” Woodward continues, writing that Coats felt, “How else to explain the president’s behavior? Coats could see no other explanation.” Mattis is quoted as calling Trump “dangerous” and “unfit” to be commander in chief. “Rage” also includes brutal assessments of Trump’s presidency from many of his former top national security officials, including former Defense Secretary James Mattis, former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The interviews were recorded by Woodward with Trump’s permission, and CNN has obtained copies of some of the audio tapes. The startling revelations in “Rage,” which CNN obtained ahead of its September 15 release, were made during 18 wide-ranging interviews Trump gave Woodward from Decemto July 21, 2020. If instead of playing down what he knew, Trump had acted decisively in early February with a strict shutdown and a consistent message to wear masks, social distance and wash hands, experts believe that thousands of American lives could have been saved. “I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.” “I wanted to always play it down,” Trump told Woodward on March 19, even as he had declared a national emergency over the virus days earlier. In “Rage,” Trump says the job of a president is “to keep our country safe.” But in early February, Trump told Woodward he knew how deadly the virus was, and in March, admitted he kept that knowledge hidden from the public. The book, using Trump’s own words, depicts a President who has betrayed the public trust and the most fundamental responsibilities of his office. Trump’s admissions are in stark contrast to his frequent public comments at the time insisting that the virus was “going to disappear” and “all work out fine.” 'Dangerous' and 'unfit': Trump's former national security advisers say he has 'no moral compass' in new Woodward book Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images President Donald Trump, flanked by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, right, speaks during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC on Monday, Oct.
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