CNN publishes letter that Woodward reports was taken from Trump’s desk

CNN on Thursday published a letter allegedly stolen from President Trump’s desk last September.

Bob Woodward alleges in his book former National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn stole the sheet of paper from Trump’s desk to prevent him from withdrawing from a trade deal with South Korea.

Woodward wrote in “Fear: Trump in the White House” that Cohn was “appalled” that Trump might sign the letter. 

{mosads}”I stole it off his desk,” Cohn reportedly told an associate. “I wouldn’t let him see it. He’s never going to see that document. Got to protect the country.” 

The document, as published by CNN, would have informed the South Korean government of the White House’s desire “to terminate” a trade agreement between the two countries that has been in place for six years. 

“The United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (Agreement), in its current form, is not in the overall bests interests of the United States Economy. Thus, in accordance with Article 24.5 of the Agreement, the United States hereby provide notice that it wishes to terminate the Agreement,” the letter says.

Woodward wrote that White House staffers feared such a move would jeopardize a program used to detect North Korean missile launches in seven seconds.

Trump has bashed Woodward’s book as fiction.

“The Woodward book is a scam. I don’t talk the way I am quoted. If I did I would not have been elected President. These quotes were made up. The author uses every trick in the book to demean and belittle. I wish the people could see the real facts — and our country is doing GREAT!” he tweeted Friday morning.

The Woodward book is a scam. I don’t talk the way I am quoted. If I did I would not have been elected President. These quotes were made up. The author uses every trick in the book to demean and belittle. I wish the people could see the real facts – and our country is doing GREAT!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 7, 2018