The book also reveals Trump's reaction to the testing crisis that bogged the country’s initial response to the virus.
“Testing is killing me!” Trump reportedly told then-Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar during a phone call on March 18. Trump was yelling so loud that aides were said to have overheard every word of the conversation.
“I’m going to lose the election because of testing! What idiot had the federal government do testing?” Trump exclaimed.
“Uh, do you mean Jared?” Azar responded, according to the Post, referring to the president’s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who five days earlier said he would spearhead the country’s testing strategy by enlisting the help of the private sector.