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Drum

(10,115 posts)
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 09:10 AM Oct 2024

Trump Secretly Stayed in Touch With Putin After Leaving Office, Book Says

Source: New York Times

Former President Donald J. Trump has secretly spoken with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia as many as seven times since leaving office, even as he was pressuring Republicans to block military aid to Ukraine to fight Russian invaders, according to a new book by the journalist Bob Woodward.

The book, titled “War” and scheduled to be published next week, describes a scene in early 2024 at Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump’s estate in Florida, when the former president ordered an aide out of his office so he could conduct a phone call with Mr. Putin. The unidentified aide said the two may have spoken a half-dozen other times as well since Mr. Trump left the White House.

The book also reports that Mr. Trump, while still in office early during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, secretly sent Mr. Putin what were then rare tests for the virus for the Russian’s personal use. Mr. Putin, who has been described as particularly concerned about being infected at the time, urged Mr. Trump to not publicly reveal the gesture because it could damage the American president politically. “I don’t want you to tell anybody because people will get mad at you, not me,” Mr. Putin reportedly told him.

The disclosures raise new questions about Mr. Trump’s relationship with Mr. Putin just weeks before an election that will determine whether the former president will reclaim the White House. A copy of the book was obtained by The New York Times. The Washington Post, where Mr. Woodward has worked for more than half a century, and CNN, where he often appears as a commentator, also reported on the book on Tuesday.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/08/us/politics/trump-putin-woodward-book.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Qk4.6a2E.BANp_swUqonw&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb





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Trump Secretly Stayed in Touch With Putin After Leaving Office, Book Says (Original Post) Drum Oct 2024 OP
Working together to undermine American democracy BoRaGard Oct 2024 #1
How is this legal or allowed? It's definitely an undermining of our Democracy and National Security Pachamama Oct 2024 #47
Bet it was... 2naSalit Oct 2024 #2
I don't think it is a secret. It's why Biden won't allow him to get national security briefings. onecaliberal Oct 2024 #3
This is just one of a million reasons trump should not have access to anything above comics. erronis Oct 2024 #4
Briefings Old Okie Oct 2024 #11
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Oct 2024 #24
The convicted felon doesn't know how to read in order to understand what... Justice matters. Oct 2024 #41
How long has Bob Woodward known about this? CrispyQ Oct 2024 #5
Far too many journalists withhold critical information so they can boost sales of an eventual book. Ramsey Barner Oct 2024 #10
No doubt Haggie Haggerman knew every nuance and detail wolfie001 Oct 2024 #14
And way too many Republicans are into it IronLionZion Oct 2024 #6
So very post "Business Plot" of 1933 and pre-Pearl Harbor of them. They never change. LiberalArkie Oct 2024 #25
"I just can't quit you." Midnight Writer Oct 2024 #7
I wonder what else Trump sent Putin? Kid Berwyn Oct 2024 #8
Okay DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #9
Actually, it was Robert Novak who... Gymbo Oct 2024 #32
Thank you Gymbo DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #37
All in the spirit of strengthening the Earth's oligarchic domination jaxexpat Oct 2024 #12
How about a campaign ad that says "Putin got our covid tests before you did". EarnestPutz Oct 2024 #13
"No puppet... no puppet... you're the puppet." n/t Harker Oct 2024 #15
Fuck fucking Woodward. Mawspam2 Oct 2024 #16
So Donald is homegirl Oct 2024 #17
Thanks for the laugh! MorbidButterflyTat Oct 2024 #20
Pootie was always his first love FakeNoose Oct 2024 #45
Treason ? republianmushroom Oct 2024 #18
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Oct 2024 #29
Seems to be to "POLITICAL" for this DOJ. republianmushroom Oct 2024 #33
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Oct 2024 #49
It's a secret? MorbidButterflyTat Oct 2024 #19
burying the lead? PedroXimenez Oct 2024 #21
True, that's a prominent part of the story, but DU guidelines necessitate I use the exact title of the article. Drum Oct 2024 #23
right i meant them not you! PedroXimenez Oct 2024 #26
... Drum Oct 2024 #28
Of course as many of us here and elsewhere have said moniss Oct 2024 #22
I'm sure this is being investigated now by DOJ and responsible (non-traitorous) members of Congress. n/t PatrickforB Oct 2024 #27
Woodward downgraded from "journalist" to hack Wild blueberry Oct 2024 #30
he has to report into his boss samsingh Oct 2024 #31
I'm sure John Roberts will find a way to call this "official business" nt TBF Oct 2024 #34
Trump is a Russian asset or spy. Putin is his handler. Oopsie Daisy Oct 2024 #35
Melania is his handler - not Putin Pachamama Oct 2024 #46
In other news orangecrush Oct 2024 #36
Hello DOJ?? Come in dammit. TRAITOR stench Evolve Dammit Oct 2024 #38
Should have been titled "treason" Layzeebeaver Oct 2024 #39
Giving Vlad scarce resources. So much for Americans First Hassler Oct 2024 #40
With a nod to "The Coasters" ( Little Eygpt) chouchou Oct 2024 #42
So good to know he took care of the Russian dictator Farmer-Rick Oct 2024 #43
Trying to figure out mercuryblues Oct 2024 #44
Reason enough 4catsmom Oct 2024 #48
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Oct 2024 #50
"secretly" Skittles Oct 2024 #51
The useless Logan Act Blue Owl Oct 2024 #52
Trump says dweller Oct 2024 #53
My takeaway from the article was the new moniker for Trump, courtesy of Joe Biden: LudwigPastorius Oct 2024 #54
DOES ANYONE think they have not talked about UKRAINE? Captain Zero Oct 2024 #55

Pachamama

(17,200 posts)
47. How is this legal or allowed? It's definitely an undermining of our Democracy and National Security
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 01:53 PM
Oct 2024

Maybe I am naive - but I was always under the belief that there is only one President at a time and that former Presidents, unless they are attending some official event and a world leader is there they happen to know, should not be having any communications in private, in person or by telephone etc post-Presidency. Maybe an exception for a retired world leader - ie Angela Merkel - but NOT a current world leader of another country. And absolutely not with an enemy state leader.

Trump is a national security risk and an enemy of the state. When he hosted Netanyahu and Urban at Mar A Lago recently I was disgusted and it’s not ok.

I hope the FBI was listening in…

 

onecaliberal

(36,594 posts)
3. I don't think it is a secret. It's why Biden won't allow him to get national security briefings.
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 09:21 AM
Oct 2024

erronis

(17,989 posts)
4. This is just one of a million reasons trump should not have access to anything above comics.
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 09:24 AM
Oct 2024

Of course the national security team in the US likely used trump to send ivan lots of fake shit

Old Okie

(220 posts)
11. Briefings
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 09:58 AM
Oct 2024

Incorrect; he has been offered briefings but has declined. Don't think he is interested in reading them if he cannot keep them.

Response to Old Okie (Reply #11)

Justice matters.

(7,981 posts)
41. The convicted felon doesn't know how to read in order to understand what...
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 11:45 AM
Oct 2024

the words on the pages mean, so it's no wonder the traitor doesn't care about them if he can't keep them to sell them to his dictators in exchange for $$$$$$$ for himself or his rotten offspring.

CrispyQ

(39,136 posts)
5. How long has Bob Woodward known about this?
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 09:25 AM
Oct 2024

Just like his interview where Trump said he knew the virus was deadly. How long after Trump said that did it take Woodward to get the interview out? I would have thought that was breaking news. ??? And this too. ???

Ramsey Barner

(669 posts)
10. Far too many journalists withhold critical information so they can boost sales of an eventual book.
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 09:56 AM
Oct 2024

wolfie001

(4,144 posts)
14. No doubt Haggie Haggerman knew every nuance and detail
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 10:06 AM
Oct 2024

She's planning for access I'm sure, and her editors at the NYTs know this as well. Billionaires have their reasons and resources to keep this sewage pipeline open at all costs. They have zero concern for freedom from christo-fascism.

I posted this at Reddit's political humor a while back. I'm on a 1 month ban for posting an anti-trump piece. This is an example of a compromised and once revered news source:

IronLionZion

(47,794 posts)
6. And way too many Republicans are into it
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 09:30 AM
Oct 2024

Supporting America's enemy while thinking of themselves as patriots.

LiberalArkie

(17,477 posts)
25. So very post "Business Plot" of 1933 and pre-Pearl Harbor of them. They never change.
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 10:57 AM
Oct 2024

Last edited Tue Oct 8, 2024, 12:40 PM - Edit history (1)

DENVERPOPS

(11,044 posts)
9. Okay
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 09:48 AM
Oct 2024

now talk about Jared.............He was obviously gathering intel for he and Trump's spawn's own personal income trail.........

The Damage goes far far beyond just OUR intel. They also shared other nation's intel.......Now, those nations won't be as good about sharing intel in the future with the U.S.

Of course, the epitome of being an asshole, and sharing critical intel was Dick Cheney. He intentionally outed a CIA operative, Valerie Plame in retaliation for her husband daring to defy his lies about IRAQ having Yellow Cake Uranium...I have to believe that within the first 24 hours, there were bodies dropping all over the world........Any person, who had done business or had contact with her cover, (which was an import/export business), would have been suspected......and probably would have been "disappeared".....

The Republicans are above caring about treasonous acts, or fear of ever being punished.

Another example was when Trump, with members of Team Six on his plane, was taking pictures, THAT SHOWED THEIR FACES, and forwarding the pictures to news agencies across America. Those Seal's careers were ended.....forever.......

Gymbo

(151 posts)
32. Actually, it was Robert Novak who...
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 11:04 AM
Oct 2024

...leaked Plame's name. Also, Karl Rove is suspected of talking to news services four days before the leak was published. I believe that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney knew about what was going down and may have even engineered it, but there is no proof of that.

DENVERPOPS

(11,044 posts)
37. Thank you Gymbo
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 11:19 AM
Oct 2024

Cheney/Rumsfeld were the ones that Plame's husband had blown out of the water by contradicting that their "Yellowcake being ready" was pure BS.....
So I can only imagine that at least those two instigated the retaliation, regardless of who did the actual deed.....But thx for your clarification of who actually disclosed the Top Secret Info......

 

jaxexpat

(7,794 posts)
12. All in the spirit of strengthening the Earth's oligarchic domination
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 10:00 AM
Oct 2024

Trump's fondest wish is to be accepted in that club.

MorbidButterflyTat

(2,677 posts)
20. Thanks for the laugh!
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 10:42 AM
Oct 2024

It reminds me of that funny picture of a guy walking with his girlfriend while checking out another girl walking by... someone substituted the faces with *rump, Putin, and that sheik guy.

It was so funny!

FakeNoose

(36,729 posts)
45. Pootie was always his first love
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 12:07 PM
Oct 2024

Just sayin'



When are we going to lock that TRAITOR up and throw away the key?

Response to republianmushroom (Reply #18)

republianmushroom

(18,815 posts)
33. Seems to be to "POLITICAL" for this DOJ.
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 11:08 AM
Oct 2024

We shall see if it is to political for the next DOJ, or if it will be sweep under the rug, claiming, for the best interest of the nation, we forgive and forget. Time will tell.

Response to republianmushroom (Reply #33)

Drum

(10,115 posts)
23. True, that's a prominent part of the story, but DU guidelines necessitate I use the exact title of the article.
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 10:53 AM
Oct 2024

You are welcome to cite an excerpt y’self.

moniss

(6,597 posts)
22. Of course as many of us here and elsewhere have said
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 10:47 AM
Oct 2024

all along. Is there truly great doubt about where some of the documents form those empty classified folders went?

PatrickforB

(15,174 posts)
27. I'm sure this is being investigated now by DOJ and responsible (non-traitorous) members of Congress. n/t
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 10:57 AM
Oct 2024

Wild blueberry

(7,438 posts)
30. Woodward downgraded from "journalist" to hack
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 11:02 AM
Oct 2024

Money from book sales override very relevant information he's been sitting on, again.

Oopsie Daisy

(5,370 posts)
35. Trump is a Russian asset or spy. Putin is his handler.
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 11:14 AM
Oct 2024

For his treachery, Trump deserves the worst punishment possible.

chouchou

(1,646 posts)
42. With a nod to "The Coasters" ( Little Eygpt)
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 11:50 AM
Oct 2024

Step right up, folks and see Little Donnie.
Do his famous dance of the Russians!
He walks, he talks, he crawls on his belly like a reptile
Just one thin dime, one tenth of a dollar! He'll do all that for you!

Farmer-Rick

(11,667 posts)
43. So good to know he took care of the Russian dictator
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 11:51 AM
Oct 2024

Before he took care of Americans during COVID.

Trump even tried to stop the testing of Americans for COVID because it showed how he allowed the disease to spread throughout the US. Republicans and their grandparents were dropping like flies, spreading COVID far and wide, denying COVID even existed while Trump and his pals were selling fake cures (drink bleach?????). All the while, Trump was sending Putin supplies for COVID.

Pure Evil

Response to Drum (Original post)

LudwigPastorius

(11,750 posts)
54. My takeaway from the article was the new moniker for Trump, courtesy of Joe Biden:
Tue Oct 8, 2024, 09:56 PM
Oct 2024
Biden calls him “that fucking asshole,” Woodward writes.


TFA...I like it. It could also stand for "traitorous fucking asshole".

Captain Zero

(7,697 posts)
55. DOES ANYONE think they have not talked about UKRAINE?
Wed Oct 9, 2024, 12:52 AM
Oct 2024
Seven conversations (that we know about).
If any of them have been since Trump was nominated and about Ukraine, then Trump is in VIOLATION OF THE LOGAN ACT!
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