U.S. President Donald Trump told campaign donors last year that he issued bomb threats to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to audio recordings aired by CNN. These recordings were obtained by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf for their book 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, reportedly sourced from Trump fundraising events in New York and Florida.
In the tapes, Trump recounted warning Putin that if Russia invaded Ukraine, he would “bomb the hell out of Moscow,” claiming he had no choice because of public pressure. He said Putin responded with disbelief, to which Trump insisted he was serious. Trump said he made a similar warning to Xi Jinping, stating he would bomb Beijing if China attacked Taiwan. According to Trump, both leaders only believed him “ten percent,” and thought he sounded unhinged.
Trump also discussed his stance on student protests, saying he would expel any protesting students from the U.S., believing such a move would put an end to demonstrations.
Back in 2022, Trump had mentioned having a firm but confidential discussion with Putin, declining to share details. Throughout his campaign, he frequently claimed he could end the Ukraine-Russia war in a single day — a promise he has yet to fulfill six months into his presidency. Most recently, Trump said he had spoken with Putin again, expressing disappointment over the lack of progress in resolving the conflict.
Regarding China-Taiwan relations, Trump previously avoided taking a firm position, citing his amicable relationship with Xi. However, in May 2025, he warned that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be disastrous. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed the U.S. position against any unilateral efforts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through force or coercion.
