A new book by veteran Watergate reporter Bob Woodward has stirred controversy with its claim that former U.S. President Donald Trump secretly sent Covid-19 testing machines to Russian President Vladimir Putin for personal use, despite the shortage of such equipment in the United States.
The book, titled War, also asserts that Trump has maintained secret communications with Putin since leaving office. These allegations have been strongly denied by Trump’s campaign, which dismissed the book as fiction.
According to excerpts reported by U.S. media, Woodward’s book reveals that Trump personally arranged to send a batch of Abbott Point of Care Covid testing machines to Putin during the early stages of the pandemic. The Russian leader, reportedly anxious about contracting the virus, requested the tests directly from Trump. However, Putin allegedly asked Trump to keep the transaction private, fearing backlash for both leaders. “I don’t want you to tell anybody because people will get mad at you, not me,” Putin is quoted as saying in the book. Trump reportedly responded, “I don’t care. Fine.”
The Trump campaign has been quick to reject these claims. In a fiery statement, campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung blasted Woodward’s credibility, calling the book “made-up stories” and suggesting it belongs “in the bargain bin of the fiction section of a discount bookstore or used as toilet tissue.” Cheung also attacked Woodward personally, labeling him “demented” and “deranged” in light of an ongoing legal battle between Trump and the journalist. Trump is suing Woodward for the unauthorized release of recordings from their interviews conducted for a previous book titled Rage in 2021, a claim that Woodward has denied.
Despite the Trump campaign’s denials, Woodward’s book has generated significant interest ahead of its release next week, particularly with its portrayal of Trump’s alleged ongoing relationship with Putin. The book describes an unnamed Trump aide who claims that the former president has had several private conversations with Putin since leaving office in January 2021. According to the New York Times, the aide recalled one instance in which they were asked to leave Trump’s office in Mar-a-Lago so the former president could take a call from Putin. The aide suggested that Trump and Putin may have spoken at least six times since his presidency ended. However, Woodward himself admits in the book that he could not independently verify this claim, and other sources contacted for corroboration were unaware of such communications.
The Trump campaign continues to deny the existence of any such calls, with a campaign official cited in the book casting doubt on the story. Additionally, Trump has faced allegations in the past regarding his relationship with Putin, particularly accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. However, a Department of Justice probe into these allegations found no conclusive evidence of collusion and did not reach a determination on whether Trump had obstructed justice during the investigation.
The release of War comes at a sensitive time, just weeks before the U.S. presidential election on November 5, 2024. The claims about Trump’s dealings with Putin have reignited public scrutiny over the nature of their relationship, with some critics questioning whether the former president’s actions were in the best interest of the United States. The revelations have also raised concerns about Trump’s decision-making during the pandemic, as the U.S. faced a dire shortage of Covid testing equipment at the time.
The book also examines broader themes, including the influence Trump has continued to exert over U.S. politics and foreign policy in the years since he left the White House. Woodward delves into how Trump’s shadow has loomed over various global conflicts and how the bitter political divisions in the U.S. have been shaped, in part, by his presidency.
In addition to focusing on Trump, War offers candid insights into the Biden administration. One notable anecdote involves President Joe Biden expressing regret over his decision to appoint Merrick Garland as Attorney General. According to the Washington Post, Biden confided in an associate that he regretted picking Garland in light of the ongoing prosecution of his son, Hunter Biden. The president reportedly told his associate, “Should never have picked Garland.”
While War has yet to be officially released, the excerpts already in circulation have provoked strong reactions on both sides of the political spectrum. For Trump supporters, the allegations in the book are seen as yet another attempt to discredit the former president ahead of a critical election. For Trump’s critics, the claims raise serious questions about his relationship with Putin and whether his actions as president prioritized personal relationships over national interests.
Bob Woodward, a journalist who rose to prominence for his role in uncovering the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, is known for his access to high-level sources and his in-depth investigative reporting. His previous books on Trump, including Fear and Rage, were bestsellers, offering insider perspectives on Trump’s presidency. However, the legal dispute over the unauthorized release of interview recordings from Rage continues to cast a shadow over the relationship between Woodward and Trump, adding another layer of tension to the release of War.
As the book’s release approaches, the debate over the validity of its claims will likely intensify, particularly as Trump continues his campaign for re-election. Whether the allegations in War will have any impact on the election outcome remains to be seen, but it is clear that the book has added another chapter to the ongoing saga of Trump’s political legacy and his complex relationship with Putin.
