Much of the internal warfare goes to a clash of two very different world views at the heart of the Trump presidency. Top aides ignore or dismiss Trump’s orders, conspiring to remove decision memorandums from his desk rather than run the risk of letting him sign them. (Instead, they call him an “idiot” and a “moron.”) Woodward’s sources tell him that Trump knows little about economics, trade, capital flows, global supply chains, defense spending, mutual security or nuclear strategy and dismisses anyone who says they do. He has so much trouble telling the truth that his lawyer calls him “disabled.” The President undercuts and insults his aides while expecting loyalty in return. Trump insists on actions but rarely follows through. I think it’s defiance.”įear lays bare so many shortcomings of Trump’s decision making that it’s hard to contain them. Obviously a lot of Trump’s aides, former and current, are not with his program.” But then he adds, “The word resistance, I don’t know if that’s the right word.

“O.K.,” he says, “let’s get to work.” So I ask: Do White House aides leak more-and resist more-than when you first talked to Richard Nixon’s advisers during Watergate, 45 years ago? Woodward thinks back.

Still neatly dressed from a television appearance earlier in the morning, Woodward has welcomed me into his Georgetown home, poured some coffee, added a generous dose of milk and made sure my tape recorder is working.

Bob woodward fear review