Trump: Didn't 'want to create panic' over COVID

President Donald Trump defended his remarks and actions regarding coronavirus threat Wednesday, insisting he didn't "want people to be frightened" or "create panic."

Trump me comments as excerpts of journalist Bob Woodward's new book were released, suggesting that Trump deliberately minimized danger of virus to American public.

Speaking to reporters from White House, Trump didn't dispute that he downplayed effects of COVID, calling himself a "cheerleer for country" and saying he was looking to instill calm.

"Certainly I'm t going to drive this country or world into a frenzy. We want to show confidence. We want to show strength. We want to show strength as a nation. And that's what I've done," Trump said.

Woodward says in his book that Trump seemed to understand severity of coronavirus threat even as he was telling nation that virus was worse than seasonal flu and insisting that U.S. government h it totally under control.

Trump also defended his actions in early days of global pandemic, saying his ministration closed up country "very, very quickly, very effectively."

"We immediately started buying all over world, we started buying masks and gowns and everything else," he said, ding that by every measure, his White House did "incredible job."