WASHINGTON − According to a newly released book by journalist Bob Woodward, former President Donald Trump has communicated with Russian President Vladimir Putin as many as seven times since leaving office.

These discussions occurred both before and after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, an action that led the Biden administration to invest billions in supporting NATO allies.

In his book titled “War,” Woodward brings to light new insights regarding the connection between Trump and Putin, who is considered a significant opponent of the U.S. This revelation arrives just a month ahead of the election on November 5, where Trump, the 2024 Republican nominee, will be competing against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.

Woodward details that while still in office, Trump privately sent COVID-19 testing equipment to Putin during a period when such tests were scarce. Advanced copies of the book have been shared with major publications like the New York Times, Washington Post, and CNN prior to its October 15 release.

According to Woodward, Putin requested Trump keep the shipment confidential due to his concerns over infection, to which Trump simply replied, “I don’t care. Fine.”

Trump campaign dismisses report as ‘fabrications’

In response to Woodward’s findings, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung labeled the claims as “fabrications” from someone he referred to as a “truly demented and deranged man.”

Cheung asserted that Trump did not grant access for this “trash book,” adding that Woodward is “a total sleazebag” who has lost touch with reality and described him as slow, lethargic, and lacking personality.

Bob Woodward has reported on U.S. presidents for five decades and is widely recognized for his investigative work on the Watergate scandal during Nixon’s presidency. He has previously published over 20 books related to U.S. politics.

In “War,” Woodward shares an incident from 2024 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, where the former president requested an aide to leave the room for a private call with Putin, as reported by the New York Times.

Woodward states, “Trump’s aide disclosed that there had been numerous phone calls between Trump and Putin, potentially totaling seven, since Trump exited the White House in 2021.”

Harris commented on Woodward’s revelation about Trump sending COVID test kits to Putin during her appearance on The Howard Stern Show, stating, “This is a clear example of who Donald Trump is – secretly providing COVID test kits for the personal use of Putin, an adversary to the U.S.”

‘Completely unsuitable’

Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, a former high-ranking U.S. intelligence officer, expressed that while former presidents generally have the freedom to maintain communication with world leaders, they usually avoid interactions with leaders of nations openly opposed to U.S. interests, particularly during conflicts like the current war between Russia and Ukraine.

Mowatt-Larssen remarked, “It’s completely unsuitable,” and added that having Trump contact Putin, even if it was a casual conversation, goes against U.S. interests, especially during a time of military and financial support for an ally at war with Russia.

Alex Plitsas, who previously worked in U.S. defense and intelligence, commented, “For me, the most crucial aspect of this will be the content of their discussions. I doubt they were just discussing recipes.”

John Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security advisor from April 2018 to September 2019 and has since become a critic of the former president, humorously remarked, “What could possibly go wrong?”

White House concerned about nuclear threats from Putin, Woodward reveals

Further insights from the book analyze President Joe Biden and his administration’s perspective on the conflict in Ukraine along with the Israel-Hamas situation.

In September 2022, the Biden administration assessed there was a 50% likelihood that Russia would deploy a tactical nuclear weapon against Ukraine, based on U.S. intelligence evaluations.

According to reports by CNN, Woodward reveals that President Biden had strong reactions after Russia invaded Ukraine. He expressed his disdain for Putin in a candid moment with advisers in the Oval Office, stating, “That f—ing Putin. He is evil. We are confronting the very essence of evil.”

Biden’s strong language was not limited to Putin; according to Woodward, he also had harsh words for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him “That son of a bitch, Bibi Netanyahu. He’s a bad guy. He’s a bad f—ing guy!” during a conversation in the spring of 2024, as tensions escalated in Gaza.

In the ongoing conflict that began two and a half years ago in Ukraine, former President Trump has remained vague about his stance. He repeatedly claims that he could end the war in less than a day if elected again, but he has yet to provide specifics on how he plans to achieve this.

Recently, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy in New York, just a day after Zelenskyy had discussions with Biden and Harris at the White House. Trump has also hosted meetings with Netanyahu and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at Mar-a-Lago after leaving office.

Woodward’s book isn’t the only one released this fall that revisits the dynamics between Trump and Putin.