The comments from the three officials demonstrate how far some members of Trump's party are willing to go to defend the President amid harsh criticism from Democrats following Woodward's reporting. Overall, 65% disapprove of his handling of the virus in that survey, about the same as it has been since mid-summer. Trump publicly downplayed the threat of cornavirus for weeks after his initial comments to Woodward, and he told Woodward on March 19 he did so purposefully. Navarro had privately warned White House officials early on about the seriousness of the virus. He said he wrote this "under the advice of the President in terms of getting on this situation because it might be serious."

Source: CNN September 13, 2020 16:18 UTC