Bob Woodward Urges Public to Monitor Trump’s Ties to Putin Following Election Victory
Veteran journalist Bob Woodward has called attention to the need for the public to closely monitor the evolving relationship between President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin as Trump prepares for his return to the White House.
In his new book, War, Woodward reveals fresh insights into this complex connection, including revelations that Trump spoke with Putin on the phone seven times after leaving office. Notably, the former president is also reported to have sent critical COVID-19 testing systems to Russia when such resources were in high demand globally.
Speaking with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Woodward expressed concern about the continuing nature of Trump’s bond with Putin. While acknowledging Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, Woodward cautioned that the relationship between the two leaders will be a key area to watch in the new administration.
Drawing on a recent conversation with former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, Woodward recalled Coats’ suggestion that the closeness between Trump and Putin appeared so intense that it raised suspicions, even hinting at the possibility of blackmail. “It’s so close, it seems like it might be blackmail,” Coats reportedly said.
Woodward also shared insights from CIA Director Bill Burns, who noted Putin’s manipulative nature. Burns emphasized that Putin was a “professionally trained” manipulator with a clear agenda, claiming that the Russian leader would likely follow a strategy similar to the one used during Trump’s first term in office, attempting to “play” him again.
Despite these allegations, Trump’s campaign has denied the claims in Woodward’s book, with Trump communications director Steven Cheung dismissing Woodward’s account, describing him as “an angry, little man” upset about a lawsuit Trump filed against him in 2021 over the unauthorized release of interview recordings.
Woodward’s claims also highlight Trump’s secretive actions during the pandemic, suggesting that the former president sent Putin Abbott Point of Care COVID-19 testing machines, purportedly for the Russian leader’s personal use, with Trump reportedly ignoring Putin’s request for confidentiality. These new details add further complexity to the ongoing discussion about Trump’s ties to Russia, a relationship that has been a focal point of controversy since the 2016 election.
As the new administration approaches, it remains to be seen how Trump’s relationship with Putin will evolve, and whether it will shape key policies during his second term.
