President Donald Trump tweeted he was "tough on hell as people" in order to get things accomplished on Wednesday, in an apparent response to a scathing new book about his administration.
Veteran journalist Bob Woodward's forthcoming book Fear: Trump in the White House paints a picture of a dysfunctional presidency, with top aides quoted as privately ripping Trump as an "idiot," "liar," and operating in "crazytown." Trump in turn is portrayed as having low opinions of many of his senior staffers, reportedly mocking Attorney General Jeff Sessions, former National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and others.
"Almost everyone agrees that my Administration has done more in less than two years than any other Administration in the history of our Country. I’m tough as hell on people & if I weren’t, nothing would get done. Also, I question everybody & everything-which is why I got elected!" Trump tweeted.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1037329592074350592
Trump earlier on Wednesday tweeted the book had already been refuted by Defense Secretary James Mattis and Chief of Staff John Kelly—both quoted in the book as trashing Trump or not following orders—and said it was a "shame" books could be made up.
He also denied specifically ever calling Sessions "mentally retarded" or mocking him for being from the south.
Trump spoke with Woodward over the phone on Aug. 14 and expressed regret over not getting to speak to him for the book.
He added in another tweet Wednesday morning that the Trump economy was booming and urged Congress to "Pass the Farm Bill with SNAP work requirements!"
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1037329782671859712