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WASHINGTON – President Trump began reconsidering his election promise to qualify China as a currency manipulator at his first-ever meeting with senior officials of the Treasury Department, according to a new book by a former senior official the White House.
million. Trump reacts with a mixture of interest and surprise when an Assistant Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, tells him what dozens of fact checkers had warned him about the year Previous: China was not. t manipulate his currency. "Truly?", Said Mr. Trump.
The assistant, Dan Kowalski, told Mr. Trump an internal report that he was wrong about the Chinese currency. "I need to see this report, "Trump said as he looked at Mr. Mnuchin.Mr Trump announced his change of heart during an interview with The Wall Street Journal on his 82nd Mandate Day, describing it as a strategic decision and not as a decision based on economic data.
The new book is the latest in a genre quickly emerging about the Trump presidency, including several former White House officials. "Team of Vipers Is written by Cliff Sims, one of the few collaborators who had access to Mr. Trump during the campaign and the first year of his presidency, and who also managed to avoid the media spotlight. who left the White House last year, was director of strategic messages. A spokesman for the White House declined to comment.
Sims looked like many Trump White House associates on his unusual journey to the West Wing. The singer of a 20-year-old rock band and founder of an Alabama political website before joining Trump's team, Mr. Sims alluded to this dynamic by describing the surprising melancholy that caught up with him when Mr. Trump announced plan to overhaul taxes last year.
"It's odd to think of the very real possibility that your professional career peaked in your early thirties," writes Sims. A framework that defined the memories of his former colleagues and culminated in a narrative that introduces readers to what he describes as the chaotic decision-making process of Mr. Trump's oval office.
Last weekend, President Trump walked on the South Lawn of the White House
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yuri gripas / Reuters
Writing about the first meeting chaired by White House chief of staff, John Kelly, with Mr. Trump and his business team, Mr. Sims shows how feuds and internal subterfuge between key collaborators helped to block another campaign of Mr. Trump
While waiting to be able to enter the Oval Office, Peter Navarro, Deputy Trade Representative, has a large foam-themed chart with graphics that he wishes to show to Mr. Trump. But Mr. Navarro kept the cards of Rob Porter, then secretary of the White House staff, responsible for checking the information presented to Mr. Trump. "You want him to hear your facts, not the facts," barks Mr. Navarro to Mr. Porter.
During the meeting, Steve Bannon, then Trump's chief strategist, stands behind Gary Cohn, who, as economic adviser president, argued for a path that did not include broad tariffs . Mr. Bannon interrupts Mr. Cohn and tells Mr. Trump: "Some people here want to derail the Trump program. I guess they have their reasons. "
" I do not understand why it's so difficult, "says Mr. Trump to his collaborators." I want rates, rates! Someone in this room can genius m & rsquo; To bring tariffs? "
Kelly, meanwhile, became visibly frustrated and ended the meeting by apologizing to Mr. Trump because he had not received a clear political recommendation about him
Porter calls on the aid group to report quickly in a nearby meeting room, but Mr. Bannon spends this meeting, which Mr. Cohn opens screaming at Mr. Navarro and accusing him of Mr. Navarro then reprimands Mr. Cohn for slowing down the pace of a presidential directive.
Sims retires to his office across the hall. "Well," said Mr. Sims. "It was something."
Write to Michael C. Bender at [email protected]
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