In newly released audio from a private fundraising dinner, former President Donald Trump claimed he directly warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that he would bomb Moscow if Russia invaded Ukraine. The audio, obtained and published by CNN on July 9, reportedly captures Trump speaking candidly to donors during a campaign event as he seeks re-election in 2024.
“With Putin, I said, ‘If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the s–t out of Moscow,’” Trump is heard saying in the recording. He continued, “He said ‘No way,’ and I said, ‘Way.’ And then he goes, ‘I don’t believe you,’ but the truth is, he believed me 10% — and 10% is all you need.”
Trump also claimed to have issued a similar warning to Chinese President Xi Jinping, stating that he would bomb Beijing if China attempted to invade Taiwan. “I said, ‘I have no choice, I’ve got to bomb them.’ He didn’t believe me either — except 10%, and 10% is enough,” Trump said.
The audio was obtained by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf, who recently co-authored a book titled “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America.”
During a Cabinet meeting on July 8, Trump further criticized Putin, saying, “We get a lot of bulls–t thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
He also addressed recent developments in Ukraine, stating that he had restarted aid deliveries after reports that the Pentagon had paused certain weapons transfers. “They have to be able to defend themselves,” Trump said. “Ukraine is getting hit very hard.”
The exact circumstances surrounding the temporary suspension of aid remain unclear. When questioned by a reporter about who initiated the halt, Trump responded, “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?” According to CNN and other outlets, the Pentagon did not inform Trump when the suspension first went into effect.
The comments come as Russia launched its most extensive drone assault on Ukraine since the war began, reportedly deploying over 700 drones in a single night on July 8.
Trump’s remarks underscore his ongoing strategy of portraying himself as a leader capable of deterring global adversaries through personal diplomacy and threats — a hallmark of his first term foreign policy approach.
