Gary Cohn Swiped Papers Off Trump’s Desk To ‘Protect The Country’
Gary Cohn Image by Getty Images
Former White House chief economic adviser Gary Cohn swiped a letter he deemed dangerous to national security from the Oval Office desk to keep President Trump from signing it, according to Bob Woodward’s new book “Fear.”
The president’s signature would have removed the U.S. from a major trade agreement with South Korea, according to CNN, which obtained a copy of the book, out Sept. 11. Trump’s aides worried withdrawing from the deal would jeopardize a crucial national security program.
Cohn was “appalled” at the possibility of Trump signing the letter, Woodward reported.
“I stole it off his desk,” Cohn told an associate, as documented in “Fear.” “I wouldn’t let him see it. He’s never going to see that document. Got to protect the country.”
In addition to stealing documents, Cohn and other White House staffers also distracted Trump from making dangerous national security decisions, Woodward reported.
Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at fisher@forward.com, or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
