(Scypre.com) – A newly released political book has revealed a bold claim that former President Donald Trump told Russian President Vladimir Putin he would “bomb the s— out of Moscow” if Russia invaded Ukraine. The statement reportedly came during a private conversation that Trump recounted at a fundraiser, according to a new book titled 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America. The claim is backed by an audio recording obtained by CNN and cited by multiple outlets, including Fox News. In the audio, Trump recounts telling Putin, “If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the s— out of Moscow,” and claims that Putin responded with disbelief. Trump then added, “I said, ‘I don’t want to do it… I have no choice.’ He believed me 10%.”
The anecdote provides rare insight into Trump’s approach to international deterrence, contrasting his public image of friendly relations with authoritarian leaders. Trump also claimed he issued a similar threat to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding any moves against Taiwan. The former president used these remarks to assert that his tough talk is the reason neither country took aggressive actions during his administration. Trump has long maintained that Russia never invaded Ukraine while he was in office because leaders like Putin respected or feared his unpredictability. This narrative is consistent with Trump’s efforts to frame himself as a strongman leader who kept America’s adversaries in check through blunt warnings rather than drawn-out diplomacy.
The book, written by Washington Post reporters Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf, offers further behind-the-scenes accounts of Trump’s 2024 campaign and his post-presidency foreign policy mindset. Trump’s campaign team has not denied the quotes and has instead leaned into them, using the story to argue that only Trump’s leadership style can prevent war. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the implications of threatening nuclear-armed states and whether such comments, even if effective in the short term, could escalate tensions or undermine diplomatic norms. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded cautiously, stating that Russian officials were unaware of the authenticity of the recording and urged skepticism about “leaked Western media.” Meanwhile, the political fallout is already unfolding, with Trump supporters praising the former president’s no-nonsense style and opponents questioning the stability such rhetoric projects on the world stage.
The revelations come amid heightened conflict in Eastern Europe. On July 9, Russia launched a record-breaking assault on Ukraine using hundreds of drones and missiles. Some analysts interpreted this as a signal of strength in response to Trump’s harsh recent comments about Putin’s “bulls— war.” With Trump once again a central figure in the 2025 political landscape, the resurfacing of these claims—just as U.S.-Russia tensions spike—raises fresh questions about the balance between intimidation and diplomacy. Whether Trump’s deterrence style is viewed as effective leadership or reckless bravado will likely remain a central debate point as the former president continues his bid to reshape U.S. foreign policy.