9-10-2024 (WASHINGTON) A forthcoming book by renowned investigative journalist Bob Woodward has ignited fresh controversy surrounding former US President Donald Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The book, titled “War”, alleges that Trump maintained communication with Putin even after leaving the White House in 2021.
According to Woodward’s account, an aide to Trump recounted being asked to vacate a room at Trump’s Florida residence to facilitate a private telephone conversation between the former president and Putin. The book suggests that multiple such calls may have occurred, potentially as many as seven since Trump’s departure from office.
This revelation adds a new dimension to Trump’s well-documented admiration for Putin. The former US president has previously described Putin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine as “genius” and “savvy”, and has consistently dismissed investigations into his 2016 campaign’s Russian connections as a “witch hunt”.
Interestingly, Woodward reports that Avril Haines, the current Director of National Intelligence under President Joe Biden’s administration, expressed uncertainty about the alleged communications between Trump and Putin. “I wouldn’t purport to speak to what President Trump may or may not have done,” Haines is quoted as saying.
The White House has yet to comment on these claims. However, the Trump camp has vehemently denied the allegations. Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump’s campaign, dismissed Woodward’s book as “the work of a truly demented and deranged man who suffers from a debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome”. Cheung further alleged that Woodward’s motivations stem from a lawsuit Trump filed against him last year over the publication of recorded conversations.
Among the book’s other startling claims is an alleged secret shipment of COVID-19 testing equipment from Trump to Putin in 2020, at the height of the pandemic when such resources were scarce. According to Woodward, Putin implored Trump to keep this transaction confidential, fearing potential backlash against Trump rather than himself.
These revelations come at a time of heightened scrutiny of Trump’s foreign relationships and his potential bid for the presidency in 2024. They raise questions about the nature and extent of Trump’s post-presidential communications with foreign leaders, particularly those with whom he cultivated controversial relationships during his tenure.
As “War” is set for release on 15 October, political analysts and the public alike eagerly await further details and potential repercussions from these explosive claims.
