In 2024, CNN released an audio recording of Donald Trump allegedly recounting a pre-presidency conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he threatened to bomb Moscow if Russia invaded Ukraine. Trump reportedly made these comments during a meeting with wealthy donors. The Kremlin, however, denied the existence of such a conversation. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated there were no phone calls with Trump during the period he referenced and questioned the authenticity of the recording, citing the prevalence of misinformation.

In the audio, Trump claimed he warned Putin by saying, “I told Putin that I would bomb the living daylights out of Moscow if he invaded Ukraine,” to which Putin supposedly responded with disbelief but gave Trump’s threat “a 10% belief.” Trump emphasized that he had “no other option.” The White House later commented to Newsweek that Russia had never invaded Ukraine during Trump’s presidency, reinforcing Trump’s narrative of deterrence.

The recording also included claims that Trump gave a similar warning to Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to the audio, Trump said he threatened to bomb Beijing if China attempted to invade Taiwan. These details were reported by CNN journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf, who included them in their 2024 book covering Trump’s private conversations.

The audio resurfaced amid Trump’s public criticisms of Putin, where he expressed frustration over the ongoing war and high Ukrainian casualties. He told reporters, “I don’t like Putin,” despite previously speaking favorably of him. Trump’s tone reflected a shift in stance as geopolitical tensions deepened.

Following this, Trump approved additional U.S. weapons for Ukraine and hinted at new sanctions against Russia. This development led Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to call for an immediate response, suggesting Ukraine expects stronger support in light of Trump’s renewed actions and rhetoric against Russia.