Watergate Reporters Slam 'Seditious' Donald Trump As Worse Than Nixon
Jun. 6 2022, Published 12:29 p.m. ET
Richard Nixon was widely seen as the most corrupt figure in modern American political history, largely due to the unprecedented Watergate scandal.
According to reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein -- who covered the Watergate scandal -- Nixon's political corruption was surpassed decades later -- by now-former President Donald Trump.
Woodward and Bernstein made their case in a new foreword to the 50th-anniversary edition of All the President’s Men.
Foreword Below
Woodward and Bernstein's new foreword was published by The Washington Post.
In it, they draw countless parallels between Nixon and Trump and conclude that Nixon's attempts to subvert American democracy pale in comparison to what Trump did before, during, and after the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
The reporters write that they had been convinced no president would ever come close to Nixon but note that their minds changed when Trump came along.
Historical Parallels
Nixon's attempts to destroy his political opponents and subvert democracy were exposed by journalists, congressional committees, and countless investigations.
In the end, Nixon became the first president in American history to resign from his position.
Trump, meanwhile, "sought to destroy the electoral system through false claims of voter fraud and unprecedented public intimidation of state election officials," and then refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power.
Trump's bid to cling to power "exceeded even Nixon’s imagination," according to Woodward and Bernstein.
Seditious President
Trump's unprecedented effort to override the will of the American people and remain commander-in-chief culminated on January 6, when a large group of his supporters violently stormed the Capitol building.
According to Woodward and Bernstein, Trump encouraged the violent mob and "did nothing to restrain them," which makes him guilty of sedition.
-By legal definition this is clearly sedition -- conduct, speech or organizing that incites people to rebel against the governing authority of the state. Thus, Trump became the first seditious president in our history.
In addition, according to the Watergate duo, Trump convinced the vast majority of Republican voters that the presidency was stolen from him and that Biden is not a legitimate president.
Trump 2024
Most Washington observers believe it is only a matter of time before Trump announces his 2024 bid. In fact, the former president himself has made it clear he intends to launch another presidential campaign.
NBC News recently reported that some close to Trump believe he will announce his 2024 campaign this summer, on July 4.
Trump's closest advisers, like Jason Miller, believe he would easily win the Republican nomination and beat Biden in the general election.
Polls suggest Trump would be a formidable opponent to any Democrat.
