In Bob Woodward’s new book, War, it is revealed that Donald Trump has held up to seven private phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin since leaving office. The book also claims Trump secretly provided Putin with COVID-19 test machines during the peak of the pandemic. According to the book, this assistance was kept under wraps at Putin’s request, fearing public backlash against Trump.
These revelations come from Woodward, the renowned journalist known for his work on the Watergate scandal. His latest book also delves into President Joe Biden’s frustrations with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Associated Press obtained an early copy of War, which is set to be released next week.
When asked about Woodward’s claims, Trump dismissed them, accusing Woodward of being untruthful and having lost his mind. Trump previously participated in interviews for Woodward’s 2021 book Rage, which later led to a lawsuit over the release of their recordings.
The book details that Trump allegedly asked a Mar-a-Lago aide to leave his office so he could have a private conversation with Putin. Though specific topics of these calls were not disclosed, it is suggested there were multiple such interactions. Some of Trump’s close advisers, like Jason Miller, denied being aware of the calls, but others implied it was possible.
Trump’s relationship with Putin has long drawn scrutiny, particularly during his 2016 presidential campaign, where he famously called on Russia to find Hillary Clinton’s deleted emails. While U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed Russian interference in the election, special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation did not establish a conspiracy between Trump’s campaign and Russia.
More controversially, Woodward reports that Trump sent COVID-19 testing equipment to Putin during the pandemic, agreeing not to publicize the action after Putin warned it could cause backlash. This revelation adds to the ongoing scrutiny of Trump’s relations with Russia, even as the U.S. faced its own struggles with the pandemic at the time.
‘An act of helping an adversary’
Vice President Kamala Harris was critical of Trump for aiding Putin with testing machines, calling it an act of helping an adversary while Americans were dying in large numbers. Biden echoed this sentiment at a Pennsylvania fundraiser, criticizing Trump’s priorities during the pandemic.
The book also describes Biden’s strained relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Biden’s trust in Netanyahu reportedly broke down during the Israel-Hamas war, with the U.S. president privately expressing his anger and disbelief that Netanyahu would try to eliminate all members of Hamas, calling such claims unrealistic.
Biden’s frustrations weren’t limited to Netanyahu. He also privately criticized former President Barack Obama’s handling of Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014, believing that Obama had failed to take Putin seriously. In addition, Biden regretted choosing Merrick Garland as Attorney General, especially after Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate his son, Hunter Biden.
Finally, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham is depicted as comparing Trump’s post-presidency life at Mar-a-Lago to visiting North Korea, where Trump is constantly surrounded by loyalists who reinforce his belief that the 2020 election was stolen. Graham’s support is said to have helped motivate Trump to run for the presidency again.
