Bush and Clinton veterans race to defend Bob Woodward


President Trump is rushing to discredit a new book by investigative journalist Bob Woodward, but former government officials agree with what the president himself told Woodward on the phone: that his reporting may be tough, but it's always "fair."
Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, who worked under former President George W. Bush, tweeted that Woodward "always plays it straight," explaining that even though the reporting could be unflattering, it wasn't necessarily untrue.
Richard Stengel, an undersecretary of state during the Obama administration, said Woodward "has the facts on his side," while fellow Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein told CNN that the book would be proven correct. "This is an irrefutable picture, because of Bob Woodward's methodology," he said. Paul Begala, an adviser to former President Bill Clinton, also stood up for the veracity of Woodward's reporting, saying he was quoted accurately 24 years ago.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While Trump repeatedly called the book "total fiction," and his attorney Rudy Giuliani said the book's depiction of him was "entirely false," Woodward offered one simple response: "I stand by my reporting."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Princess cake: 'sexy' Swedish dessert has a moment
The Week Recommends The retro layered cake is selling fast in bakeries and hip restaurants around the world
-
Pros and cons of a wealth tax
Pros and Cons Raising revenue and tackling inequality vs. the risk of capital flight and reduced competitiveness
-
The best film prequels of all time
The Week Recommends Balancing new information with what the audience already knows is a perilous tightrope
-
Secret Service 'failures' on Trump shooting
Speed Read Two new reports detail security breakdowns that led to attempts on the president's life
-
Trump set to hit Canada with 35% tariffs
Speed Read The president accused Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney of failing to stop the cross-border flow of fentanyl
-
Mahmoud Khalil files $20M claim over ICE detention
Speed Read This is the 'first damages complaint' brought by an individual targeted by the Trump's administration's 'crackdown' on Gaza war protesters
-
Trump threatens Brazil with 50% tariffs
Speed Read He accused Brazil's current president of leading a 'witch hunt' against far-right former leader Jair Bolsonaro
-
AI scammer fakes Rubio messages to top officials
Speed Read The unknown individual mimicked Rubio in voice and text messages sent to multiple government officials
-
SCOTUS greenlights Trump's federal firings
speed read The Trump administration can conduct mass federal firings without Congress' permission, the Supreme Court ruled
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin August 1 on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
Elon Musk launching 'America Party'
Speed Read The tech mogul promised to form a new political party if Trump's megabill passed Congress