Woodward: Some things Trump 'did and does' jeopardizes 'real national security'

Veteran journalist Bob Woodward on Monday said the Trump presidency has not been treated "seriously" enough, expressing urgency over his reporting that indicates "some of the things Trump did and does jeopardize the real national security."

"This has not been treated seriously enough and ... some of the things Trump did and does jeopardize the real national security," Woodward said while appearing on NBC's "Today" show.

Woodward was on the program to promote his book, "Fear: Trump in the White House," which presents an image of a White House where staffers seek to undermine some of the president's proposals.

"This country does some things in the intelligence world which are so important to protect the country, they are astonishing," Woodward said on "Today."

"They are secret — they are called 'Special Access Programs.' And he jeopardizes them."

“This has not been treated seriously enough. Some of the things Trump did and does jeopardize the real national security.” -@realBobWoodward pic.twitter.com/RpHrUanVpj
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 10, 2018

Woodward reports that some White House aides have stolen documents off of the president's desk to prevent him from signing them, including an agreement to leave the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Those advisers think leaving the agreement could roil international markets significantly.

Woodward also reports that Defense Secretary James MattisJames Norman Mattis Woodward: Draft Trump tweet alarmed Pentagon officials Mattis-Trump relationship put to the test by Woodward book Overnight Defense: Trump said to extend Syria strategy | Mattis pushes Taliban talks during Afghanistan visit | Trump says he 'most likely' won't shut down government MORE disregarded a suggestion by Trump that the U.S. assassinate Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

Woodward on NBC said Trump has jeopardized the "position of the economy" by ignoring expert advice, in particular on the use of tariffs.

"He jeopardizes the position in the economy by doing things that experts — 99.9 percent of the people say, 'Don’t do tariffs, it doesn’t work,' " Woodward said.

"He’s got it in his head and when people challenge him, he’ll say, 'Oh, I’ve had those ideas for thirty years, you’re wrong,' " the Watergate journalist added.

The White House has sought to push back on the claims revealed in excerpts from the book that is scheduled to be released Tuesday.

The president on Monday called the book a "joke," while White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has claimed the book is largely fabricated.

Woodward during the NBC interview said it "happens frequently" that people deny what they said to the president after the fact.

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