A forthcoming book by seasoned Watergate journalist Bob Woodward alleges that Donald Trump covertly sent coveted Covid-19 testing machines to Vladimir Putin for personal use during a period of critical shortages—an assertion vehemently refuted by the Trump campaign.
The book, titled War, also claims that Trump has maintained clandestine communication with Putin since leaving the presidency, as reported in various U.S. media outlets. In an interview with ABC News, Trump dismissed Woodward’s allegations, labeling him “a storyteller—a bad one” and suggesting he has “lost his marbles.”
The Trump campaign dismissed the claims as “fabricated stories,” with spokesperson Steven Cheung stating, “President Trump gave him absolutely no access for this trash book that either belongs in the bargain bin of the fiction section of a discount bookstore or used as toilet tissue,” as reported by the BBC.
Set to be released next week, the book attributes the alleged ongoing communications between Trump and Putin to an unnamed aide. According to a New York Times report, the book depicts a scene where a Trump aide was asked to leave the former president’s office at Mar-a-Lago to facilitate a conversation with Putin. This aide reportedly claimed that Trump and Putin may have spoken approximately six times since Trump vacated the White House in 2021. However, the Kremlin denied that any discussions had taken place between the two.
The book does not elaborate on the content of these supposed conversations, and it includes remarks from a Trump campaign official casting doubt on the alleged communications. Notably, the BBC has not yet obtained a copy of the book. The Times noted that Woodward admitted he could not verify the aide’s assertions, and that other sources he consulted were unaware of any contact between Trump and Putin following his departure from office.
Bob Woodward, renowned for his investigative reporting during the Watergate scandal that led to Richard Nixon’s downfall, has authored several bestselling books based on insights from high-level sources. In a strongly worded response, Trump’s campaign spokesperson criticized Woodward as “demented” and “deranged,” accusing him of being an “angry little man” upset over Trump’s successful lawsuit regarding the unauthorized publication of previous recordings made by Woodward.
Trump previously engaged with Woodward for his 2021 book, Rage, but later filed a lawsuit claiming that Woodward did not have permission to release recordings of their discussions, a claim the author denied.
In War, Woodward alleges that while Trump was in office, he “secretly sent Putin a bunch of Abbott Point of Care Covid test machines for his personal use.” The narrative suggests that Putin was particularly concerned about contracting the virus. According to Woodward’s account, Putin requested Trump to keep the matter confidential, expressing concern that public knowledge of the tests would harm Trump’s reputation. Reportedly, Putin said, “I don’t want you to tell anybody because people will get mad at you, not me,” to which Trump replied, “I don’t care. Fine.”
These revelations reignite discussions about Trump’s relationship with Putin, particularly as the November 5 election approaches. The former president has faced allegations of collusion with Russia during the 2016 election, although a Department of Justice investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing and did not reach a conclusion regarding obstruction of justice.
Furthermore, the book scrutinizes Trump’s enduring influence over foreign conflicts and the polarized political landscape in the U.S. over the past four years. It also features candid reflections from President Joe Biden on his own decisions, including the appointment of Merrick Garland as attorney general. In light of the ongoing prosecution of his son Hunter—led by a special prosecutor designated by Garland—Biden reportedly told an associate, “Should never have picked Garland,” as highlighted by the Washington Post.
