DONALD Trump confessed to Bob Woodward that he "downplayed" coronavirus and "knew it was deadly" despite claiming it was under control.
The comments, which were recorded, are revealed Woodward's new book 'Rage.'
However, during a briefing on Wednesday, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany denied the claims, telling reporters "The president has never lied to the American public on COVID."
Trump allegedly told the author that the virus was "deadly stuff" during an interview on February 7.
Woodward collected interview recordings with the president where he made several comments – including that coronavirus could be five times "more deadly" than the flu.
However, during several press briefings at the White House, Trump would tell reporters that the virus was "under control" and would "disappear."
On March 19, just days after he declared a national emergency, the president admitted that what he said in public and what he knew in private were two different things.
"I wanted to always play it down," Trump told Woodward. "I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic."
More to follow…
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