Will Trump refuse to leave office? Woodward says 'anything is possible in Trumpworld'
Bob Woodward says President Trump’s efforts to undermine the public’s confidence in the election is creating a perfect storm that could result in his refusal to leave office.
“All of us in our business are going to have to wear seatbelts and a shoulder harness,” Woodward told Yahoo News Editor in Chief Daniel Klaidman and Chief Investigative Correspondent Michael Isikoff during a live edition of the “Skullduggery” podcast on Thursday. “We are running into a hurricane, a hailstorm and a tsunami all at the same time. God knows what's going to happen.”
In interviews Woodward conducted with Trump for his new book, “Rage,” the renowned Washington Post journalist asked the president about whether he would refuse to leave office if he loses a close or contested election.
Trump cut Woodward off, saying he did not want to comment on such a scenario.
Asked on “Skullduggery” whether he believed Trump would resist leaving the White House as he is constitutionally required to do, Woodward replied: “Anything is possible. Absolutely anything is possible in Trumpworld.”
Trump’s repeated attacks on mail-in voting, false claims of widespread voter fraud and his refusal to commit to accepting the election results have led to speculation that he may try to retain power regardless of the outcome. His opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, has said he believes Trump may try to delay the Nov. 3 vote if he thinks he will lose. And, in an interview with Fox News in July, Trump declined to say he would accept the election results.
“No,” Trump told Chris Wallace. “I have to see.”
Woodward said that reporters need to be prepared for all imaginable scenarios, and to “bleach out the emotional reactions” to Trump’s penchant for relaying falsehoods.
“‘Oh, this isn’t true, that isn’t true.’ OK, but let’s find out what is true,” Woodward said.
_____
Read more from Yahoo News:
Woodward says Trump has ‘lost his way not just as a president but as a human being’
Husband of Scarborough aide who died in 2001 speaks out about Trump's tweets: 'It's just inhuman'
Yahoo News-YouGov Poll: Biden’s lead over Trump shrinks to 6 points
Why a herd immunity approach to COVID-19 could be a deadly disaster
