New revelations shed light on former President Donald Trump's ongoing relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to a Daily Mail Online report, Trump has maintained regular contact with Putin since leaving office, including multiple phone calls and a secret gift of COVID-19 test kits.
The information comes from Bob Woodward's latest book, which details the extent of their communications even after Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Woodward's book claims that Trump has spoken with Putin "maybe as many as seven" times since leaving the White House in 2021. These conversations reportedly continued even after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in widespread international condemnation and sanctions against Russia.
One such call allegedly took place in early 2024, with Trump instructing an aide to leave his Mar-a-Lago office to ensure privacy during the conversation with Putin. This level of secrecy raises questions about the nature and content of these discussions. Trump has consistently maintained that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine had he still been in office, a claim he frequently repeats at campaign events.
During the height of the pandemic in 2020, Trump reportedly sent Putin a secret stash of Abbott COVID-19 test machines for his personal use. This gesture came at a time when many countries were exchanging solidarity gifts to combat the global health crisis.
According to Woodward's account, Putin requested that the donation be kept confidential, reportedly telling Trump:
Please don't tell anybody you sent these to me. I don't want you to tell anybody because people will get mad at you, not me.
Trump allegedly responded with indifference to Putin's concern for secrecy, simply saying, "I don't care. Fine."
The book paints a stark contrast between Trump's approach to Putin and that of President Joe Biden. While Trump maintained frequent contact with the Russian leader, Biden's administration has taken a more confrontational stance, particularly in response to the Ukraine invasion.
Woodward reports that Biden expressed strong emotions about Putin to his advisors, allegedly stating: "That f****** Putin. Putin is evil. We are dealing with the epitome of evil." This difference in approach is further highlighted by the Biden administration's decision to provide billions of dollars in sophisticated weaponry to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
In response to the book's claims, Trump's campaign has issued a statement denouncing Woodward as a "truly demented and deranged man" and asserting that his "made-up stories" are false. This pushback comes as Trump continues to face scrutiny over his relationship with Putin and his stance on the Ukraine conflict.
The former president recently stood alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming he could quickly resolve the ongoing war if re-elected. However, his criticism of U.S. funding for Ukraine and his past attempts to investigate the Biden family through Zelensky remain contentious issues.
In conclusion, Bob Woodward's new book alleges that Donald Trump has maintained frequent contact with Vladimir Putin since leaving office, including multiple phone calls and a secret gift of COVID-19 tests. These revelations contrast sharply with the Biden administration's approach to Russia, particularly in light of the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Trump's campaign vehemently denies these claims, setting the stage for continued debate over the former president's relationship with Putin.
