THROWING SHADE

Author Bob Woodward: NYT Op-Ed ‘Too Vague’

The author questions the journalistic standards of an anonymous piece making similar claims as those in his bombshell book.

In his first TV interview since the publication of his bombshell book on Trump’s White House, Bob Woodward said an anonymous New York Times op-ed describing a “resistance” within the administration did not meet his own journalistic standards. “I wouldn't have used it,” Woodward said in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning. “Too vague and does not meet the standards of trying to describe specific incidents. Specific incidents are the building blocks of journalism, as you well know,” he said. The op-ed, purportedly written by a senior official in the Trump administration, claimed the president’s aides live in fear of what his next reckless decision will be. The piece echoed claims of instability and infighting in the White House also made in Woodward’s new book, Fear: Trump in the White House. But Woodward on Sunday said even after interviewing dozens of sources in the administration for the book, he had “no idea” who could have penned the op-ed. “It’s very important who it is. It’s very important whether this is somebody who witnessed and participated.” After going in the “belly of the beast” to write his new book, Woodward said, he realized, “People better wake up to what’s going on.”