Trump threatens to bomb Moscow, Beijing in leaked audio: CNN
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In a newly released audio, US President Trump claimed he threatened to bomb Moscow and Beijing if Russia invaded Ukraine or China attacked Taiwan.
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US President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House on July 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
A newly released audio recording by CNN exposes US President Donald Trump claiming he delivered blunt threats to Russian and Chinese leaders, warning that he would bomb their capitals if they moved militarily against Ukraine or Taiwan.
Speaking at a 2024 campaign fundraiser, Trump recounted his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "With Putin I said: 'If you go in to Ukraine, I'm gonna bomb the sh*t out of Moscow. I'm telling you, I have no choice.' So he goes like, 'I don't believe you.' He said: 'No Way.' And I said, 'Way.' And then he goes like: 'I don't believe you.' But the truth is, he believed me 10%. I told you this, he believed me 10%," Trump said.
He claimed to have used similar language with Xi: "When I'm with President Xi of China. I said the same thing to them, I said you know, 'If you go into Taiwan, I'm gonna bomb the shit out of Beijing.' He thought I was crazy."
CNN claims ‘Exclusive audio’ of Trump THREATENING Putin and Xi
— RT (@RT_com) July 9, 2025
‘I said if you go into Ukraine, I’m gonna BOMB the sh*t out of Moscow’
Think Trump leaked it himself? pic.twitter.com/KWzwOUcqXW
Unpredictable US power
The recording surfaced just days after Trump reportedly spoke by phone with Putin, later admitting that he was unhappy with the situation in Ukraine and that no significant progress had been made toward ending the war. "I don't know," if he can stop the fighting, Trump told reporters last week, casting doubt on his prior promises to swiftly resolve the conflict.
Despite those comments, his administration has resumed arms shipments to Ukraine amid a surge in Russian aerial assaults. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stepped up coordination with the US to expedite the delivery of air-defense systems such as Patriots, citing the escalating threat of missile and drone strikes.
Meanwhile, the US continues to funnel billions of dollars in military support to Taiwan, with the backlog of weapons transfers now exceeding $20 billion. Trump has ramped up arms sales far beyond levels seen under previous administrations, a policy that has enraged Beijing and drawn sharp criticism for undermining the One China policy.
These developments unfold against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical volatility. Just weeks ago, the US launched a series of strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in coordination with "Israel." While the operation inflicted significant damage, Washington quickly reversed course and is now quietly seeking to renew nuclear talks with Tehran. The move was widely interpreted as a sign of weakness and inconsistency, exposing the incoherence at the heart of US strategy.
Read more: Tehran weighs US request for renewed nuclear talks: Report
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow is closely following Trump’s public remarks. But observers say the US appears increasingly reactive, swinging between threats, escalation, and desperate attempts at diplomacy, a posture that not only fails to inspire allies but emboldens adversaries.
