CNN has published a letter that was allegedly stolen off of President Donald Trump’s desk last September by former White House chief economic adviser Gary Cohn.
Cohn told an associate that he "stole" a letter withdrawing the U.S. from a trade agreement with South Korea off of Trump’s desk, Bob Woodward wrote in his book on the Trump administration.
"I stole it off his desk," Cohn reportedly said. "I wouldn’t let him see it. He’s never going to see that document. Got to protect the country."
Trump described the story as "phony" on Wednesday. According to CNN, the letter is reproduced in Woodward’s book, which the network received an advance copy of. It’s addressed to the South Korean president and trade minister, and informs them that the U.S. "wishes to terminate" the current trade agreement between the two countries.
"The United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (Agreement), in its current form, is not in the overall bests interests of the United States Economy," the letter reads. "Thus, in accordance with Article 24.5 of the Agreement, the United States hereby provide notice that it wishes to terminate the Agreement."
On Friday morning, Trump tweeted that Woodward’s book "is a scam. I don’t talk the way I am quoted. If I did I would not have been elected President. These quotes were made up. The author uses every trick in the book to demean and belittle. I wish the people could see the real facts - and our country is doing GREAT!"
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