Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly told a group of wealthy donors that he once threatened to bomb Moscow if Russia invaded Ukraine. The audio, shared by CNN and featured in the book 2024, captures Trump saying he told President Vladimir Putin, “If you go into Ukraine, I’ll bomb Moscow.” Trump claimed Putin didn’t fully believe him, but took him seriously enough to back off a little.
Trump also said he gave a similar warning to China’s leader, Xi Jinping. He claimed he told Xi that if China attacked Taiwan, the U.S. would respond by bombing Beijing. According to Trump, Xi thought he was “crazy,” but they never had a serious conflict during his presidency.
These comments were recorded during private fundraisers in Florida and New York. Trump used the events to talk about his bold foreign policy ideas and show donors how he handles global threats. The recordings haven’t been shared publicly before, and Trump’s team hasn’t commented.
At the events, Trump criticized President Biden and claimed that if he were still in office, wars like those in Ukraine and Gaza wouldn’t have happened. He also expressed frustration with Putin for not agreeing to peace. “I’m not happy with Putin,” he said. “They’re spreading lies.”
Trump also tried to raise more money from donors during these gatherings. He proudly mentioned a story where a donor who promised $1 million ended up giving $25 million instead. “It’s wild,” he said, “but you have to be bold and ask.”
Aside from foreign issues, Trump talked about dealing with student protesters. He said he would deport students who protested in support of Palestine on college campuses. “I’d throw them out of the country,” Trump said. “That will stop it.”
One of the donors told Trump that these students could become future leaders. Trump responded by saying that if he wins in 2024, he would push that movement back by decades. He also said Republicans are at a disadvantage because people on welfare tend to vote for Democrats. He urged Jewish voters to support the Republican Party more.
The recordings reveal Trump speaking freely and confidently in private, painting himself as the only one tough enough to handle global enemies and opposition at home.
