President Donald Trump told private donors during last year’s presidential race that he threatened to bomb the capitals of Russia and China in separate conversations with Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. The newly released audio recordings, obtained by CNN, reveal Trump describing the tense exchanges at closed-door fundraisers in 2024.
What did Trump say?
“With Putin, I said, ‘If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the s— out of Moscow. I’m telling you I have no choice,” Trump said on the tape. “And then [Putin] goes, like, ‘I don’t believe you.’ But he believed me 10%.”
Trump said he delivered a similar warning to Xi Jinping over a potential invasion of Taiwan, saying that, if China moved on Taiwan, he would bomb Beijing.
“He thought I was crazy,” Trump said, referring to Xi. “But we never had a problem.”
Trump said only a little belief in the threat was needed, saying, “In fact, 5% would have been OK too.”
Where were the comments made?
The recordings come from fundraising events in New York and Florida in 2024. They were obtained by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Armsdorf for their new book, “2024.”
This marks the first public release of the audio.
The recordings surface amid Trump’s renewed criticism of Vladimir Putin. Speaking Tuesday, July 8, during a Cabinet meeting, Trump said Putin is throwing “a lot of bulls—” at the U.S., and added, “I’m not happy with Putin.”
Trump’s pledge to end the War in Ukraine
Trump has repeatedly claimed that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he had remained president. He also promised to quickly end the war if re-elected.
However, his administration has faced more resistance from Moscow than expected. Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine, including new drone strikes on Kyiv, even as the U.S. continues to push for a ceasefire.
A Kremlin spokesperson responded to the release of the recordings, saying he could “neither confirm or deny” the conversation between Trump and Putin. He also questioned its authenticity, saying, “Whether it is fake or not, we do not know either.”
China has not yet publicly responded to the recordings.
