By John Q. Hosedrinker 
According to a CNN report, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed in a private fundraiser that he threatened Vladimir Putin with bombing Moscow if Russia attacked Ukraine. Trump allegedly stated Putin was skeptical but “believed me 10%,” and made similar threats to Xi Jinping regarding Taiwan. These claims come amidst Trump’s campaign assertions that he would have prevented the 2022 invasion, shifting blame to the current administration. Simultaneously, Trump has recently expressed more critical views of Putin, signaling support for sanctions and air defense supplies for Ukraine, contrasting with earlier hesitations to pressure Moscow.
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Trump claims he told Putin he would ‘bomb the sh*t out of Moscow’ if Russia attacked Ukraine, CNN reports. Okay, so let’s unpack this, shall we? First off, we’re talking about a claim, a statement attributed to a man known for making… well, a lot of statements. Some true, some less so. And the context here is that Trump, in a private setting, reportedly told Putin something along the lines of, “I’ll bomb the sh*t out of Moscow” if he invaded Ukraine. Seems pretty definitive, doesn’t it? But we have to remember the source and the potential for hyperbole.
The idea of a U.S. president threatening to nuke the Russian capital, Moscow, is a pretty big deal. It’s the kind of thing that could launch a thousand think pieces, and it certainly raises the stakes in an already tense geopolitical situation. It is hard to take this at face value given the source. We have to remember that the former president has a history of making bold, often outlandish, claims. Remember the “eating cats/dogs” thing? Or the many, many claims of innocence despite numerous legal challenges?
Now, let’s think about the implications here. The article claims that if something is a lie, one can identify it if it is followed by “Trump said” or “Trump claimed.” The entire situation seems to be a lie, as the article points out. Would such a threat even be credible? The use of nuclear weapons is not something that would be thrown around casually. Moreover, the article points out that Putin would have likely not believed this claim because of the two countries’ nuclear capabilities.
The fact that he made this statement privately is also interesting. It suggests that perhaps this was a carefully crafted performance, designed to impress or intimidate in a closed-door setting. If it’s a lie, then it can be called such with confidence. The article also points out the fact that Russia has been “fucking with Ukraine since 2014,” which means it is quite possible that the entire event is a misunderstanding of what he meant.
The question then becomes: is this the bluster of a bully trying to sound tough? Is it a misremembered conversation? Or is it something else entirely, a deliberate play for political points, perhaps? After all, he does have a knack for making headlines. This reminds me of a child playing make believe.
The article touches on how Trump might have reacted if Putin was to actually call his bluff. It’s the same energy as a playground bully who tries to sound intimidating. It’s all a show of power, the article argues, one that he is unable to back up. But let’s be honest, the whole scenario feels… well, a bit ludicrous.
The article suggests that maybe this is just another smokescreen to distract from other things. The author points out that the story is another Trump lie, and is completely out of sync with reality. This whole alleged conversation may just be a strategic act of deflection from the truth, with the purpose of shifting attention from more serious issues.
So where does that leave us? With more questions than answers, probably. The statement is likely a lie, and we are left to wonder. Did Putin hang up and then they had a good cackle? Does Trump even understand the gravity of the situation? Perhaps, in his mind, Russia hasn’t even invaded Ukraine yet.
And frankly, I don’t know which is worse: the idea that he actually said this, or the idea that he thinks it’s okay to say things like this, whether true or not. It’s a reminder that words, especially from someone with considerable power, can have lasting consequences. And right now, with the world in a delicate and dangerous state, the last thing we need is more political theater.