Fear: Trump in the White House

by Bob Woodward

“Go to the podium right now, and make a statement.” He was inviting Cohn to go to the podium in the press room of the White House. “I’m not going to do that, sir. That’s embarrassing. That’s not what you do. Let me do it my way.” “I don’t care what way you do it,” Trump said. “I just don’t want you leaving until taxes are done. And you can say whatever you need to say.” “Do you want to see it before I say it?” Trump seemed to be of two minds. “Nope,” Trump replied at first. “Say whatever you want to say.” But then he asked what it might be. “Could we see it first?” Cohn said he would work with the White House communications department. On the way out of the Oval Office, General Kelly, who had heard it all, pulled Cohn into the Cabinet Room. According to notes that Cohn made afterward, Kelly said, “That was the greatest show of self-control I have ever seen. If that was me, I would have taken that resignation letter and shoved it up his ass six different times.”