Trump author hits back over Bannon claim
THE author of an explosive new book questioning US president Donald Trump’s fitness for office has contradicted former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon’s explanation of comments which angered his former boss.
Michael Wolff appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe show to discuss his book, Fire And Fury: Inside The Trump White House.
In the book, Mr Bannon describes a meeting between Donald Trump Jr, senior campaign aides and a Russian lawyer as “treasonous” and “unpatriotic”.
The reference angered the president (right), who last week lashed out at Mr Bannon, saying he had “lost his mind”.
Mr Bannon sought to make amends on Sunday, saying that his description was not aimed at Mr Trump’s son, but at former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.
However, Mr Wolff told MSNBC: “It was not directed at Manafort, it was directed directly at Don Jr.”
Mr Wolff ’s book portrays the 45th president as a leader who does not understand the weight of his office and whose competence is questioned by aides.
Trump administration officials and allies defended the president and attacked Mr Wolff ’s book on Sunday.
Chief policy adviser Stephen Miller, in a combative appearance Sunday on CNN, described Fire And Fury as “nothing but a pile of trash, through and through”.
CIA director Mike Pompeo said Mr Trump was “completely fit” to lead the country.
“These are from people who just have not accepted the fact that President Trump is the United States president, and I’m sorry for them in that,” Mr Pompeo, who gives Trump his regular intelligence briefings, told Fox News Sunday.
Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said she visits the White House once a week, and “no-one questions the stability of the president”.
She told ABC: “I’m always amazed at the lengths people will go to, to lie for money and for power. This is like taking it to a whole new low.”
The picture painted by the book, said Mr Miller, “is so contrary to reality, to the experience of those who work with him (Mr Trump)”.
Mr Miller also criticised Steve Bannon, who is quoted extensively in the book, saying it was “tragic and unfortunate” that the former senior aide “would make these grotesque comments so out of touch with reality and obviously so vindictive”.
In his statement on Sunday, Mr Bannon praised Donald Trump Jr as “both a patriot and a good man”.
Meanwhile, in Manhattan, three people were injured after a fire broke out in Trump Tower’s heating and air conditioning system.
The blaze started at around 7am (noon GMT), causing smoke to billow from the roof of the Manhattan building which contains President Donald Trump’s home and business offices.
Two civilians and a firefighter were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the New York fire department said.
It took about an hour to put out the fire.
The president was at the White House when fire engines clogged the streets around his Fifth Avenue building during the morning rush hour.
Mr Trump’s son Eric later wrote on Twitter: “There was a small electrical fire in a cooling tower on the roof of Trump Tower.
“The New York Fire Department was here within minutes and did an incredible job. The men and women of the #FDNY are true heroes and deserve our most sincere thanks and praise!”
The Republican president announced his candidacy in 2015 at Trump Tower, his home for more than 30 years.