Staff Reports
Vladimir Putin, the master of Kremlin theatrics, recently took to the podium to announce that he hasn’t chatted with President-elect Donald Trump in over four years. This bold proclamation could easily leave one scratching their head, especially when placed next to the hot-off-the-press claims from the legendary Bob Woodward, who insists that the two were in regular contact after Trump’s presidency. Sounds like the makings of a political soap opera, complete with plot twists worthy of daytime television.
During a long-winded press conference, Putin wrung his hands over Russia’s endeavors in Syria and the ongoing mess in Ukraine. When asked if he had any plans to meet up with Trump, he seemed to play a game of political dodgeball—stating he didn’t know when a meeting might occur since Trump hadn’t reached out. His claims of crickets in the communication department surprised many, given that Woodward’s book is making waves with sensational allegations about secret Covid test kits being dispatched from Trump to Putin during those pandemic days. Perhaps their favorite game had turned from chess to “guess who’s not calling?”
Putin on Trump: "I have not talked to him for more than four years." So who's fibbing, Putin or Woodward? pic.twitter.com/IZYM8ygjlk
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) December 20, 2024
Americans may want to pop some popcorn as they digest Woodward’s accusations. The journalist asserts that Trump and Putin were not just talking shop about world affairs but were regularly in touch, including sending test kits at a time when the U.S. was scrambling to keep its own citizens healthy. That’s one way to put the “world” in “world leaders,” but most would argue it’s a bit irresponsible to send help across borders when your own citizens are left hanging.
Woodward then takes it a step further, suggesting that Trump’s friendly banter with the Russian leader makes him an unsuitable candidate for presidency. According to the author, Trump’s chats with Putin during an active war—specifically against one of the U.S.’s allies, no less—puts him in a league of his own, an exclusive club of unfit presidents. This seems to suggest that one should only communicate with acceptable leaders like, say, anyone from the European Union.
But the Trump campaign was quick to lay the smackdown on Woodward’s narrative, branding the book as a collection of fabrications that could make a soap opera writer blush. Their rebuttal chalks up the whole endeavor to someone who’s perhaps had one too many cups of haterade, saying it stems from a severe case of “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” If there were an Olympics for book bashing, the Trump camp would undoubtedly take home the gold.
As the saga unfolds, one thing’s crystal clear: this chain of events could very well become the subject of future political debates, memes, and more conspiracy theories than a conspiracy theorist could possibly handle. In short, Grab a drink and hold onto your hats because the next chapter in the Trump-Putin story could be dropping at any moment, and it’s bound to be as riveting as a reality TV reunion special. Who knows? The only thing missing might just be a catchy theme song.
