During his presidency, Donald J. Trump expressed outrage over former Secretary of State John Kerry's communications with foreign officials after leaving office, even suggesting that Kerry should be imprisoned for it. Currently, Trump faces scrutiny regarding his own potential communications with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin since leaving the White House, which he previously labeled as a betrayal of the United States.
Despite having criticized Kerry for engaging with Iranian officials, Trump stated that it would be “a good thing” for him to have maintained contact with Putin. While he did not confirm reports of having spoken with Putin, as detailed in Bob Woodward's new book, he also did not deny it during an interview at the Economic Club of Chicago.
When questioned by Bloomberg News' John Micklethwait about whether he had talked to Putin since his presidency, Trump refrained from a direct answer but indicated that having a relationship with foreign leaders is beneficial, particularly given the nuclear capabilities of both nations.
Trump's remarks raise questions about his relationship with Putin as he campaigns to regain the presidency. While former presidents often communicate with foreign leaders, it is unusual for one to engage with an adversary like Putin during a conflict without coordination with the current administration.
Woodward's book claims that an unidentified Trump aide revealed that Trump had spoken with Putin multiple times since leaving office, possibly as many as seven times. The book also notes that Trump agreed to send Covid-19 testing equipment to Russia at Putin's request during the early pandemic, a gesture that Putin asked to keep confidential.
Trump's campaign has denied Woodward's claims, labeling them as false. However, the Kremlin has confirmed the receipt of testing equipment, while denying any communication between Trump and Putin.
Trump has consistently shown admiration for Putin, despite the latter's controversial actions. He has previously characterized Putin's invasion of Ukraine as “very smart” and has criticized U.S. military support for Ukraine.
During his presidency, Trump condemned Kerry for discussing the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump had withdrawn the U.S. from, claiming it violated the Logan Act—a law prohibiting private citizens from engaging in foreign diplomacy. Trump urged the Justice Department to prosecute Kerry, but multiple investigations concluded there was no viable case.
Despite these findings, Trump reportedly continued to seek legal avenues to pursue charges against Kerry, reflecting his persistent focus on the issue throughout his presidency.