Michael Wolff, the author of a controversial book on Donald Trump says that all his White House aides see him as a “child” who needs “immediate gratification”.
Wolff said his book was based on about 200 interviews, and rejected Mr Trump’s claims that it was “phony” and “full of lies”.
The president says he never spoke to him but Wolff told NBC’s Today show that they spent three hours together.
The book has now gone on sale early despite Mr Trump’s attempts to stop it.
Mr Trump’s lawyers had tried to block publication of Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, alleging it contained many falsehoods and saying they were considering pursuing libel charges.
The president himself tweeted on Friday that the “phony new book” was being pushed by the media and others to hurt him. He added: “They should try winning an election. Sad!”
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Wolff said that White House staff described the president as childlike because “he has the need for immediate gratification. It’s all about him… This man does not read, does not listen. He’s like a pinball just shooting off the sides.”
What did Wolff say about his research?
The president said he had not given Wolff access to the White House nor spoken to him for the book.
But Wolff responded: “What was I doing there if he didn’t want me to be there? I absolutely spoke to the president… It was not off the record.”
He said he had spent three hours with Mr Trump in total, both during the election campaign and after the inauguration.
Hitting back in the television interview at White House attacks, he said the president had no credibility and that “100% of the people around him” question his fitness for office.
I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for author of phony book! I never spoke to him for book. Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that don’t exist. Look at this guy’s past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018
Wolff said it was “extraordinary” that the president of the US would try to stop publication of his book, a move that “the CEO of a mid-sized company” would not attempt.
WATCH: @SavannahGuthrie’s full interview with ‘Fire and Fury’ author @MichaelWolffNYC pic.twitter.com/pNUWx4nGbJ
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 5, 2018
What is in the book?
The book cites former top aide Steve Bannon as describing a meeting at Trump Tower in New York between a Russian lawyer and Trump election campaign officials, including Mr Trump’s son Donald Jr, as “treasonous”.
Both Mr Trump Jr and his father deny that any collusion with Russians to win the election took place. However Mr Bannon is quoted in the book as saying: “They’re going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV.”
The meeting is being investigated by Special Counsel Robert Mueller as part of his inquiry into possible collusion between Trump campaign officials and Russians.
The book makes many other claims, including that:
- The Trump team was shocked and horrified by his election win
- His wife, Melania, was in tears of sadness on election night
- Mr Trump was angry that A-list stars had snubbed his inauguration
- The new president “found the White House to be vexing and even a little scary”
- His daughter, Ivanka, had a plan with her husband, Jared Kushner, that she would be “the first woman president”
- Ivanka Trump mocked her dad’s “comb-over” hairstyle and “often described the mechanics behind it to friends”
However, the accuracy of some excerpts has been criticised and questioned in the US media.
