Coronavirus: Trump addresses claims he intentionally misled public on COVID-19

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday addressed audio recordings of him admitting to journalist Bob Woodward that he “wanted to always” downplay the COVID-19 disease, as well as excerpts from a book alleging he intentionally downplayed the virus, saying he merely did not want to show panic when speaking about the coronavirus in public. Trump called the book a “political hit job,” despite his own comments being on the record, but said that when talking about the virus in public he wanted to ensure no panic was caused. Asked why he didn’t take action in February and waited until March, Trump said “you have to show leadership” and that leadership “is confidence in our country.”

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