A brand new ebook by legendary Watergate reporter Bob Woodward accommodates a collection of explosive claims about high-profile political figures in the US.
Among the many allegations made within the ebook, Woodward claims that former President Donald Trump covertly despatched Russian President Vladimir Putin COVID-19 checks throughout the pandemic, in accordance with excerpts seen by CNN.
The ebook, referred to as Battle, additionally claims that Trump spoke to Putin a minimum of seven instances following his departure from the White Home.
Trump’s marketing campaign crew denied Woodward’s allegations and branded Battle a “trash ebook.”
US President Donald Trump (L) chats to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation leaders assembly at a summit in Danang, Vietnam, on November 11, 2017.
Mikhail KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK AFP through Getty Photographs
Trump ‘secretly despatched Putin Covid checks’
The ebook reveals new particulars about Trump’s relationship with Putin and claims that, within the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Trump despatched a covert cargo to the Russian president.
Trump reportedly “despatched Putin a bunch of Abbott Level of Care COVID check machines for his private use.” The Russian president allegedly requested his U.S. counterpart to maintain the cargo quiet.
In keeping with Woodward, Putin mentioned to Trump: “Please do not inform anyone you despatched these to me.” Woodward stories that Trump’s reply was: “I do not care. Effective.”
“No, no,” Putin reportedly mentioned. “I do not need you to inform anyone as a result of individuals will get mad at you, not me. They do not care about me.”
Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump marketing campaign, rejected the allegations and advised Newsweek they’re “made up.”
“None of those made-up tales by Bob Woodward are true and are the work of a very demented and deranged man who suffers from a debilitating case of Trump derangement syndrome.
“Woodward is an offended little man and is clearly upset as a result of President Trump is efficiently suing him due to the unauthorized publishing of recordings he made beforehand.
“President Trump gave him completely no entry for this trash ebook that both belongs within the discount bin of the fiction part of a reduction bookstore or is used as rest room tissue.
“Woodward is a complete sleazebag who has misplaced it mentally, and he is gradual, torpid, incompetent, and general a boring particular person with no character.”
Trump ‘Spoke To Putin At Least 7 Occasions’
Trump has confronted criticism for sustaining a pleasant relationship with the Russian chief since his time in workplace.
Woodwards’ ebook means that Trump and Putin have spoken as many as seven instances since Trump left the White Home in 2021.
In keeping with excerpts of the ebook seen by CNN, Trump earlier this 12 months requested an unnamed aide to depart his workplace at his Mar-a-Lago Membership in Palm Seaside, Florida, so he may have a non-public cellphone dialog with Putin.
US President Donald Trump (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a gathering in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16, 2018.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP
Woodward writes: “In keeping with Trump’s aide, there have been a number of cellphone calls between Trump and Putin, possibly as many as seven within the interval since Trump left the White Home in 2021.”
When requested by Woodward concerning the contact, Trump’s marketing campaign official Jason Miller was evasive, finally responding: “Um, ah, not that, ah, not that I am conscious of. I have never heard that they are speaking, so I would push again on that.”
In an interview with ABC Information, Trump described Woodward as “a storyteller. A nasty one. And he is misplaced his marbles.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied the allegations and advised the New York Occasions: “It is a typical bogus story within the context of the preelection political marketing campaign.”
Lindsey Graham mentioned Trump is Turning into ‘Extra Eractic’
Woodward writes in Battle that Republican Senator Lindsey Graham described the previous president as “turning into extra erratic.”
In keeping with CNN, Graham advised Trump to maneuver on from his 2020 election defeat to President Joe Biden, telling him if he’s reelected in 2024, “then January 6 will not be your obituary.”
“I gave a speech at present, and I solely talked about the 2020 election twice!” Trump reportedly mentioned to Graham a couple of days later.
Woodward claims that Graham mentioned of the previous president: “Trump is turning into extra erratic. These courtroom instances. I believe they’d rattle anyone.”