Donald Trump hits back at explosive book that claims his staff think he’s an idiot

DONALD Trump was labelled an “idiot” in a new book. And he’s hit back with bombastic rage.

DONALD Trump has lashed out at iconic American journalist Bob Woodward, whose explosive new book claims the president’s staff think he’s an idiot.

An excerpt of Fear: Trump in the White House published by the Washington Post on Tuesday prompted a flurry of statements from the administration.

It also saw a slew of tweets from Mr Trump, who described Mr Woodward as an “operative” of the Democratic Party.

“The Woodward book has already been refuted and discredited by General (Secretary of Defence) James Mattis and General (Chief of Staff) John Kelly,” Mr Trump tweeted.

“Their quotes were made up frauds, a con on the public. Likewise other stories and quotes. Woodward is a Dem operative? Notice timing?”

A new book by Bob Woodward contains explosive claims about the White House and President Donald Trump. Picture: AFP

He also took a swipe at the press, including “sleepy eyes Chuck Todd of fake NBC News”, who Mr Trump said had encouraged members of the press to “start fighting back”.

Mr Trump also tweeted: “The already discredited Woodward book, so many lies and phony sources, has me calling Jeff Sessions ‘mentally retarded’ and ‘a dumb southerner’. I said NEITHER, never used those terms on anyone, including Jeff, and being a southerner is a GREAT thing. He made this up to divide!”

Statement from White House @PressSec, Sarah Sanders: pic.twitter.com/mE73HSi6Rl

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders issued a statement describing the book as “nothing more than fabricated stories”.

Mr Woodward’s investigative journalism exposed the Watergate scandal and helped bring down President Richard Nixon. His latest work has been hotly anticipated since it was announced.

The forthcoming book claims chief of staff John Kelly had concerns about Mr Trump’s mental faculties. It quotes him as saying during a meeting, “we’re in Crazytown”.

A flurry of denials have flooded from the White House, including from Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis, since details of Bob Woodward’s book were published. Picture: AFP

It also alleged that he and other current and former aides called the president an idiot.

Mr Kelly slammed the suggestion, saying “the story is total BS”.

“The idea I ever called the president an idiot is not true, in fact it’s exactly the opposite,” he said in a statement.

Statement from White House Chief of Staff, General John Kelly: pic.twitter.com/LUN8cDr3N5

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018

Jim Mattis, Secretary of Defence, said to “close associates that the President acted like — and had the understanding of — a fifth- or sixth-grader”, the book claimed.

Among other details in the excerpt was the allegation that Mr Trump’s former lawyer, who represented him in the probe of suspected Russian election interference, feared the president could perjure himself.

The book claims he said Mr Trump would “end up in an orange jumpsuit”. Mr Dowd denied that was true.

Statement from Secretary of Defense, James Mattis: pic.twitter.com/OneaxKCneV

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018