Trump Criticizes Michael Wolff's Tell-All Book, Says It's "Full of Lies"

The president finally responded on Twitter after excerpts of Wolff's blockbuster book 'Fire and Fury' dominated the news cycle.

It took three days of non-stop news coverage but Donald Trump finally fired back at author Michael Wolff over the bombshell claims made in his White House tell-all book.

On Thursday night the president tweeted that he gave Wolff "zero access" to his administration and described the much-anticipated Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House a "phony book!"

Trump described the claims made in Fire and Fury as "lies, misrepresentations" and said that Wolff used "sources that don't exist." Trump also questioned Wolff's past and took a dig at "Sloppy" Steve Bannon, who made the most incendiary comments in the book, including floating the suggestion that Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner may have committed "treasonous" acts.

I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for author of phony book! I never spoke to him for book. Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that don’t exist. Look at this guy’s past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018

The claims made in Fire and Fury, taken from excerpts, were released in New York magazine and GQ and a column in The Hollywood Reporter earlier this week. The column that ran in THR was prefaced with an editor's note explaining that Wolff's book was a "detailed account of the 45th president’s election and first year in office based on extensive access to the White House and more than 200 interviews with Trump and senior staff over a period of 18 months."

The eye-popping anecdotes revealed in the excerpts include how Trump and his family, particularly Melania, didn't really expect or want to win the presidency, the ruthless ambition of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump as well as Bannon's explosive quotes about members of the Trump campaign taking an infamous meeting with Russians at Trump Tower, which the former White House advisor described as "treasonous" and "unpatriotic."

Earlier on Thursday, Trump's lawyers sent Wolff and the publishing house Henry Holt & Co. a cease and desist demand. The 11-page letter demanded that Wolff and the publisher refrain from further publication of the book and any excerpts or summaries of the contents. Additionally, Trump wanted an apology and a complete retraction.