DW: The long-standing Trump-Putin relationship

Bob Woodward is a legend in American journalism. He became famous in the early 1970s for exposing the Watergate scandal in the Washington Post, and has since been considered one of the most renowned investigative journalists in the U.S.

His new book, titled War, deals with the influence of American presidents on geopolitics, especially in relation to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. What has particularly caught the media’s attention recently is Donald Trump‘s relationship with Vladimir Putin.

According to Woodward, the two have spoken up to seven times since Trump left office in early 2021.

What could they possibly discuss? This question is widely debated in the press, especially at a time when Russia’s war with Ukraine continues with no peace in sight.

Trump’s Party

MSNBC journalist Lawrence O’Donnell commented: “A report like this would have ended any presidential candidacy before Trump’s era, and even today it would destroy a Democratic candidacy.”

Both Trump’s and the Kremlin’s spokespersons denied the information, though not with much fervor. After all, the Republican candidate himself has occasionally stated that he has a good relationship with Putin. And his base does not seem bothered by this, according to O’Donnell.

“Trump has turned the Republicans into the Trump Party. He has a solid base of around 47%, and due to the peculiarities of the U.S. electoral system, this could help him win the election under certain circumstances.”

Trump as a Pacifist

Trump also frequently repeats in his campaign appearances that he could quickly end the war with Russia. Analysts believe he is simply a victim of Putin’s flattery, but this could ultimately pose a national risk.

In any case, the Kremlin confirmed that during Trump’s presidency, he personally sent COVID-19 tests to Putin at the start of the pandemic, when these were still scarce in the U.S. Their relationship has lasted for years and explains whom the other side would like to see win the U.S. elections.

References to Biden

Woodward’s book also includes many other interesting aspects of U.S. political life, including details about Joe Biden’s presidency. For instance, according to CNN, Woodward reports that the sitting U.S. president allegedly referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “bastard.”

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