DONALD Trump sent Vladimir Putin Covid tests during the pandemic with the tyrant pleading to keep the handout a secret, claims an investigative journalist.
The Republican nominee, 78, is even said to have phoned up his Russian dictator pal seven times in the years since he lost the US election.
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Veteran US reporter Bob Woodward claims in his new book that Trump “secretly sent Putin a bunch of Abbott Point of Care Covid test machines for his personal use” at the start of the pandemic in 2020.
A grateful yet paranoid Putin reportedly responded to the gift by telling his US ally: “I don’t want you to tell anybody.
The famed Watergate reporter says Trump nonchalantly replied: “I don’t care. Fine.”
Before Putin replied: “No, no. I don’t want you to tell anybody because people will get mad at you not me. They don’t care about me.”
Throughout the pandemic the US and Russia were known to share medical supplies under Trump’s government such as ventilators.
But a personal deal between the pair around Covid testing machines would have likely caused issues and sparked controversy.
Woodward has also revealed how the political pals remained close even after Trump lost to current president Joe Biden and Putin launched his horror invasion of Ukraine.
The pair have shared up to seven private phone calls all while Biden spent his four years in power condemning Russia.
No, no. I don’t want you to tell anybody because people will get mad at you not me. They don’t care about me
Vladimir Putin
All while sending Ukraine billions in cash to aid their war against Putin.
Earlier this year, Woodward even says that Trump ordered his personal aide to leave his office at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, so he could jump onto a call with Vlad.
Trump’s representatives have denied any phone calls have taken place with Putin.
Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, said: “None of these made-up stories by Bob Woodward are true and are the work of a truly demented and deranged man.”
Trump’s close ties to Putin have been evident even in the build up to the 2016 US election where he beat out Hilary Clinton.
U.S. intelligence agencies determined that Russia had meddled in the election process in favour of Trump.
But no connection was ever made accusing Trump’s team of conspiring with Russia.
During his reign in the White House Trump managed to keep Russia on side and kept Putin at bay.
After losing to Biden four years ago, Russia’s stance on the US drastically changed as they launched their invasion on Ukraine and slammed the West.
Trump has remained critical of the support given to Ukraine by the US and also called the Russian leader pretty smart for the invasion.
Many believe due to these remarks that a second Trump presidency could leave Ukraine vulnerable and underfunded without US weapons and cash boosts.
Despite this Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that he and Trump agree that “Putin can’t win”.
None of these made-up stories by Bob Woodward are true and are the work of a truly demented and deranged man
Steven Cheung
It came after the fractious pair met for tense talks that may decide the fate of the war last month.
It was the first time they have met since 2019.
Woodward’s new book War is set to reveal many well-kept secrets on the state of US politics across the Biden administration.
Also touching on Israel’s year-long battles in the Middle East and the raging war in Europe involving Putin.
It is due to be released next week with exerts already being released by Woodward’s two employers CNN and the Washington Post.
Other topics in the book focus on Biden and his foreign policies – especially concerning his opinions on international leaders.
In one passage Woodward claims the president said: “Putin is evil. We are dealing with the epitome of evil.”
It is unclear what happened to provoke the comments from the usually subdued Biden.
Woodward also says that in October 2021, US intelligence provided “conclusive” evidence that Putin planned to invade Ukraine in a few months, according to CNN.
Biden reportedly responded to CIA director Bill Burns at the time: “Jesus Christ! Now I’ve got to deal with Russia swallowing Ukraine?”
The president reportedly also blasted Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu after several attempts at a US-designed ceasefire in Gaza were rejected by Israel.
Woodward claims Biden called him “a son of a b****” and “a bad f***ing guy!”
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