Trump Admits Downplaying COVID-19 Seriousness In Released Audio

US President Donald Trump admits to downplaying the gravity of the coronavirus pandemic in recording from an interview with US journalist Bob Woodward.

Trump was reported to have said, “I wanted to always play it down,” according to a page from the book "Rage" previewed by CNN.

“I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic," he said.

These recordings released weeks before the presidential election in November tilts public opinion away from the Trump camp.

In a poll, a substantial amount of voters says that they are displeased at the way the Trump administration is handling the pandemic.

Responding to the book where his admission was recorded, Trump said that it was “another political hit job” but went on to say that if he had downplayed the seriousness of the pandemic, it would be because he was trying to avoid a "frenzy" among the citizenry.

READ ALSO: Trump Accuses Opposition Of 'Undermining Public Confidence'

He said, “The fact is I’m a cheerleader for this country, I love this country and I don’t want people to be frightened.

“I’m not going to drive this country or the world into a frenzy. We have to show leadership and the last thing you want to do is create a panic.”

In the book, set to be published on 15 September, Trump had said that he knew that the virus was a "deadly stuff" and was more dangerous than the flu - that he always claimed was its equivalent.

Democratic rival Joe Biden said, in Michigan on a campaign stop, “He knew how deadly it was.

“He lied to the American people. He knowingly and willingly lied about the threat it posed to the country for months.

“It was a life and death betrayal of the American people."