Trump's secret chats with Putin, Biden calls Bibi son of b**ch: Shocking revelations from new book

Editor’s Note: The story contains explicit language.

Bob Woodward’s latest book, War, offers a look into the inner workings of the Biden administration, capturing the personal struggles, international tensions, and the intricate political calculations that have defined United States President Joe Biden’s presidency.

The book also includes candid revelations about Biden’s interactions with world leaders such as Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

It also sheds new light on the private dealings of former US President Donald Trump and his ongoing relationship with Putin, offering revelations that stretch across several geopolitical crises, including the war in Ukraine, Israel’s conflict with Gaza, and the saga of Hunter Biden’s legal challenges.

Biden and his profanity laden critique of world leaders

Perhaps most striking are Biden’s blunt assessments of world leaders, many of whom he has sparred with both publicly and privately. In a candid moment from the spring of 2024, as the conflict in Gaza escalated, Biden reportedly addressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as – “That son of a bitch, Bibi Netanyahu, he’s a bad guy. He’s a bad fucking guy!” according to Woodward.

This was just one of many instances where Biden’s frustration with Netanyahu boiled over, reflecting the rocky, yet enduring, relationship between the two leaders. Despite this, the White House has maintained that the president and Netanyahu share a “long-term, honest and direct relationship,” downplaying specific details from the book.

But Netanyahu isn’t the only target of Biden’s ire. The president’s harsh words for Russian President Vladimir Putin are also documented. In the aftermath of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Biden referred to Putin as “evil” and “the epitome of evil” in conversations with his advisers.

Woodward’s reporting underscores how Biden’s administration viewed the Russian leader not just as a geopolitical adversary but as a personal villain, a stark shift in the US-Russia relationship that has shaped much of Biden’s foreign policy.

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Ukraine, Putin, and the threat of nuclear war

One of the most alarming sections of War details the Biden administration’s struggle to anticipate and counter Putin’s aggression toward Ukraine. Woodward reveals that US intelligence had obtained remarkably precise details of Russia’s invasion plans months in advance, thanks to a human source deep within the Kremlin.

In October 2021, Biden and his team knew Putin intended to send 175,000 troops into Ukraine, information that led to intense internal debates about how to respond.

Despite the dire warnings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initially dismissed the idea that an invasion was imminent. Even after US Vice President Kamala Harris personally warned Zelenskyy of the looming threat at the Munich Security Conference in February 2022, he remained skeptical.

According to Woodward, Harris told Zelenskyy to prepare for the worst, even suggesting that he consider a succession plan in case he was killed or captured during the invasion.

As the war dragged on, fears over Putin’s potential use of nuclear weapons reached a fever pitch within the Biden administration. By September 2022, intelligence assessments suggested there was a 50 per cent chance that Russia might use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine, a dramatic increase from earlier estimates.

Biden took these threats seriously, instructing his national security team to convey dire warnings to their Russian counterparts. In one tense phone call, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, “If you did this, all the restraints we have been operating under in Ukraine would be reconsidered.”

Shoigu retorted that he did not take kindly to threats, to which Austin responded, “I don’t make threats.”

Two days later, the Russians floated a claim that Ukraine was planning to use a “dirty bomb,” a narrative the US believed was an attempt to justify a nuclear escalation. Austin flatly rejected the claim in a subsequent conversation with Shoigu, asserting, “We don’t believe you. The world will see through this.”

The exchange, which Woodward describes as one of the most “hair-raising” moments of the war, marked a turning point in the US approach to Russia’s nuclear saber-rattling.

Trump’s secret dealings with Putin

While much of War focuses on Biden’s presidency, it also delves into new revelations about Donald Trump’s secretive relationship with Putin. Woodward reveals that during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump sent Putin a shipment of Abbott Point of Care testing machines for his personal use.

The delivery, kept secret at Putin’s request, highlights the close, if controversial, ties between the two leaders. According to Woodward, Putin urged Trump to keep the gesture quiet, warning that it would anger the American public. “People will get mad at you, not me,” Putin allegedly said.

Trump, who has consistently denied cozying up to the Russian leader, dismissed the report as “false.” Nevertheless, Woodward writes that the two men remained in touch after Trump left the White House, with at least seven phone calls taking place between the former president and Putin during Biden’s tenure.

These calls, often shrouded in secrecy, have raised concerns among national security officials about what was discussed, though Trump’s aides have publicly denied any nefarious exchanges.

Biden’s personal battles at home

Woodward’s book also offers a rare glimpse into Biden’s personal and political battles on the home front. Chief among these is Biden’s frustration with his attorney general, Merrick Garland, particularly over the handling of the legal troubles surrounding his son, Hunter Biden.

In private conversations, Biden has reportedly expressed deep regret over selecting Garland, telling an associate, “Should never have picked Garland.” The president’s irritation over Hunter’s legal woes has simmered for years, with Biden once remarking, “This is never going to fucking go away.”

The book documents a poignant moment at the White House in 2022 when Hunter interrupted a dinner to lament his legal challenges, prompting the president to lean back in his chair and sigh as his son rambled about his personal crisis.

This scene, along with others, reflects the deep emotional toll that Hunter Biden’s legal troubles have taken on the president, even as he has tried to maintain a distance from the US Department of Justice’s handling of the case.

Biden’s frustrations also extend to his former boss, US President Barack Obama. According to Woodward, Biden was critical of Obama’s response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, arguing that the administration’s failure to take Putin seriously emboldened the Russian leader. “They fucked up in 2014,” Biden reportedly told a friend. “That’s why we are here.”

The decision to step aside in 2024

One of the most significant revelations in War is Biden’s decision to step aside from the 2024 US presidential race. According to Woodward, the decision was fraught with personal and political considerations, including concerns about Biden’s age, health, and legacy.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken played a key role in these discussions, urging Biden to reflect on whether he could handle another four years in office. “Can you see yourself doing it for another four years?” Blinken reportedly asked Biden during a private lunch in July 2024.

The question hung over the president as he grappled with whether to continue his re-election campaign.

By July 21, Biden had made his decision, endorsing US Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. The move was seen as a strategic attempt to consolidate Democratic support behind Harris and avoid a potentially bruising primary battle.

However, the decision also harkened back to Biden’s own frustrations with Obama, who had not publicly endorsed him early in the 2016 race.

Tensions with Netanyahu and the crisis in West Asia

In one of the most dramatic parts of the book, Woodward chronicles Biden’s struggles with Netanyahu during Israel’s 2023 war with Gaza. Behind closed doors, Biden expressed deep frustration with the Israeli prime minister’s handling of the conflict.

In an April phone call, Biden reportedly chastised Netanyahu, saying, “You’ve got no strategy.” As the war escalated, Biden’s anger grew. After an Israeli airstrike killed a Hezbollah commander and three civilians in Beirut, Biden exploded in a conversation with Netanyahu: “What the fuck?” Biden yelled, accusing Israel of risking its international reputation.

The tension between Biden and Netanyahu extended to other regional issues, including Israel’s strikes against Iranian targets. After one particularly volatile exchange, Biden urged Netanyahu to “do nothing” in response to Iranian missile attacks, advice that the Israeli leader ultimately ignored.

The strained relationship between the two leaders, coupled with the broader complexities of US foreign policy in the region, highlights the delicate balancing act Biden has had to maintain throughout his presidency.

Who is Bob Woodward?

Bob Woodward is one of the most renowned investigative journalists in American history, best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Watergate scandal, which ultimately led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974.

Along with fellow Washington Post reporter Carl Bernstein, Woodward’s work during that era not only earned him global recognition but also set a new standard for investigative journalism. The impact of their reporting, chronicled in the book ‘All the President’s Men’, solidified Woodward’s reputation as a journalist who could unearth the inner workings of political power.

Over the decades, Woodward has authored or co-authored over twenty books, most of which have focused on American presidencies and the power structures within the US government. His writing spans from his coverage of the Nixon administration to the Bush, Obama, and Trump presidencies, with each of his works gaining widespread attention for its in-depth analysis and often explosive revelations.

Woodward’s hallmark style involves conducting extensive interviews and gathering insights from key insiders — often senior officials or close associates of presidents — to provide a behind-the-scenes look at how critical decisions are made in the White House.

His books have been a mainstay on The New York Times bestseller lists, frequently revealing intimate and sometimes controversial details about US leaders.

Known for his rigorous fact-checking and meticulous sourcing, Woodward’s work remains highly influential, shaping public discourse around major political figures and their legacies.

Though his work has garnered him tremendous respect, Woodward has also faced criticism from some quarters, particularly over his methods of securing information and his reliance on unnamed sources.

With inputs from agencies