• Trump claimed he would bomb Moscow if Russia invaded Ukraine.
• He issued a similar threat to Beijing if China attacked Taiwan.
• The audio was recorded during private fundraisers for his 2024 campaign.
• Trump stated that he believes deterrence is a factor in international relations.
• He expressed that conflicts like those in Ukraine and Gaza wouldn’t have happened under his administration.

In a recently leaked audio from donor fundraisers, former President Donald Trump detailed his threats to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, asserting he would "bomb the s*** out of Moscow" if Russia invaded Ukraine. He recounted his conversation with Putin, stating that he told him, "If you go into Ukraine, I’m gonna bomb the s*** out of Moscow," claiming that Putin responded, “I don’t believe you,” but still believed him "10 percent" of the time, according to Newsweek and India Times.

Trump, in similar fashion, recounted that he warned Xi against invading Taiwan with the same violent rhetoric, stating, "If you attack Taiwan, we will bomb Beijing," to which Xi allegedly responded with disbelief, expressing that Trump was "crazy." Trump maintained that despite the threats, both leaders did not pose issues during his presidency, as he noted that “we never had a problem,” according to TRT Global and HuffPost.

The audio was obtained by journalists from a series of private fundraising events held last year in New York and Florida, serving as part of Trump’s promotional efforts for his 2024 presidential campaign. Trump's remarks aim to exemplify his belief that military threats can act as a deterrent, with him insisting that conflicts, such as those in Ukraine and Gaza, would not have taken place if he had remained in power, as reported by The Hill.

While Trump reflects on past conversations with world leaders, he has also faced criticism and scrutiny for his approach to diplomacy and conflict resolution. His recent comments express dissatisfaction with ongoing negotiations and the realities of conflict in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, which he claims might have been managed differently under his administration, according to HuffPost and TRT Global.