A new book by Bob Woodward has stirred controversy by claiming that former President Donald J. Trump maintained secret communications with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin after leaving office.
A NEW BOOK by journalist Bob Woodward has reignited the debate over former President Donald J. Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin. According to a report in The New York Times,
Woodward’s book War claims that Trump had secret communications with Putin as many as seven times since leaving office in 2021. The allegations, which have not been independently confirmed, are fuelling renewed concerns about Trump’s ties to Russia, particularly in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The book cites an unnamed aide who claims Trump had spoken with Putin on multiple occasions, including during early 2024 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, where the aide was reportedly asked to leave the room for a private call.
These conversations allegedly occurred while Trump was advocating for Republicans to block military aid to Ukraine, raising questions about Trump’s influence on U.S. foreign policy and his continued relationship with a foreign adversary.
In addition, the book claims that in 2020, while still in office, Trump secretly sent Covid-19 testing equipment to Putin for his personal use, a gesture that the Russian leader reportedly requested be kept secret to avoid political fallout for Trump. While U.S. and Russian officials publicly acknowledged in 2020 that Covid supplies were sent to Russia, it was not disclosed that some of the equipment was meant specifically for Putin, nor that he asked Trump to keep it under wraps.
The Trump campaign has dismissed Woodward’s book, calling the claims “made-up stories” and attacking the author’s credibility. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov also denied the claims, labeling them a “bogus story” typical of the pre-election political climate. However, neither Trump’s campaign nor the Kremlin addressed the specific allegations of post-presidency communications between Trump and Putin.
The New York Times report highlights Trump’s long-standing admiration for Putin, a relationship that has drawn scrutiny since 2016 when U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia interfered in the election to help Trump win.
Trump has repeatedly praised Putin, even calling him a “genius” after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and has resisted calls for stronger U.S. support for Ukraine in the ongoing war. On the campaign trail, Trump has claimed that his “good relationship” with Putin would allow him to broker a peace deal within 24 hours if re-elected.
While current and former U.S. officials contacted by The New York Times could not confirm the specific details of Trump’s alleged post-White House contacts with Putin, the controversy surrounding their relationship is likely to remain a focal point as the 2024 election draws closer.
The allegations in War have once again cast a spotlight on Trump’s foreign policy positions, especially regarding Russia, and are likely to fuel further scrutiny of his potential return to the White House. 
Team PT
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