Former Attorney General William Barr did not hold back in his criticism of former President Donald Trump in his memoir, according to a report.
The Wall Street Journal reported Barr criticized Trump for claiming the 2020 presidential election was stolen and suggested it is time for Republicans to move on from the former president.
He wrote in his book, titled, “One Damn Thing After Another,” that Trump has “shown he has neither the temperament nor persuasive powers to provide the kind of positive leadership that is needed.”
Barr explained he believed Trump could have won the election if he “just exercised a modicum of self-restraint, moderating even a little of his pettiness.”
He wrote, “The election was not ‘stolen,'” adding, “Trump lost it.”
The former attorney general called on Republicans to look to “an impressive array of younger candidates” who align with Trump’s agenda but not his “erratic personal behavior,” as the Journal reported.
According to the Journal, Barr’s book details a December 1 meeting in the Oval Office after he declared there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud that could reverse the election.
“This is killing me – killing me. This is pulling the rug right out from under me,” Trump allegedly shouted at Barr, according to the book.
Barr added, “He stopped for a moment and then said, ‘You must hate Trump. You would only do this if you hate Trump.'”
Additionally, Barr suggested the “absurd lengths” to which Trump “took his ‘stolen election’ claim led to the rioting on Capitol Hill.'”
Similarly, Trump has not held back in his criticism of Barr.
Trump issued a statement last year, saying, “Bill Barr was a disappointment in every sense of the word.”
He added, “Besides which, Barr, who was Attorney General (lawyer) shouldn’t be speaking about the President.”
Trump then argued “instead of doing his job,” Barr “did the opposite and told people within the Justice Department not to investigate the election.”
