In a striking revelation, President Donald Trump reportedly told private donors during the 2024 presidential race that he had issued stern warnings to the leaders of Russia and China, threatening to bomb their capitals.
These candid remarks, captured in newly released audio recordings, were made during closed-door fundraisers and have been obtained by CNN.
According to Straight Arrow News, the recordings reveal Trump recounting his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In the tapes, Trump is heard saying, "With Putin, I said, If you go into Ukraine, Im going to bomb the s out of Moscow. Im telling you I have no choice.
He further elaborated that Putin seemed skeptical, yet conceded, "But he believed me 10%." Similarly, Trump claimed to have warned Xi Jinping of a potential bombing of Beijing should China attempt an invasion of Taiwan, noting, "He thought I was crazy. But we never had a problem." Trump emphasized that even a small degree of belief in his threats was sufficient, stating, "In fact, 5% would have been OK too."
The recordings, which were obtained by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Armsdorf for their book "2024," have been made public for the first time. They emerge as Trump continues to criticize Vladimir Putin, recently expressing dissatisfaction with the Russian leader's actions. During a Cabinet meeting on July 8, Trump remarked that Putin is throwing "a lot of bulls" at the United States, adding, "Im not happy with Putin."
Trump has consistently argued that Russia's invasion of Ukraine would not have occurred under his leadership and has vowed to swiftly end the conflict if re-elected.
Despite these assertions, his administration has encountered unexpected resistance from Moscow. Russia has intensified its military actions in Ukraine, including launching new drone strikes on Kyiv, while the United States persists in advocating for a ceasefire.
In response to the release of the recordings, a Kremlin spokesperson stated that they could "neither confirm nor deny" the conversation between Trump and Putin, questioning the authenticity of the audio by saying, "Whether it is fake or not, we do not know either." Meanwhile, China has yet to issue a public response regarding the recordings.
Login