A leaked audio recording obtained by CNN reportedly features U.S. President Donald Trump claiming he threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin with a bombing of Moscow. The conversation, the date of which remains unclear, is said to have taken place during a 2024 donor event amid Trump’s presidential campaign.

In the recording, Trump can allegedly be heard recounting a warning he gave to Putin: “If you go into Ukraine, I will bomb Moscow. I’m telling you, I don’t have another choice.” The audio surfaced on Wednesday, July 9, but it is still unknown exactly when this conversation is supposed to have occurred.

Trump Claims Putin Wasn’t Convinced — But He Was

In the same recording, Trump appears to express satisfaction with his threat, stating that Putin did not initially believe him. However, Trump insists that the Russian leader took him seriously — “At least 10%,” he reportedly said.

This is not the first time Trump has suggested that he made direct warnings to deter Russian aggression. He has repeatedly hinted in public statements that his leadership and threats prevented a potential invasion of Ukraine during his presidency.

trump threatens russia

People wearing head cut-outs depicting U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin jump during a protest at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, February 20, 2025. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

White House and Kremlin React Cautiously

The recording has not been independently verified, and its authenticity remains in question. The White House has declined to comment on the matter. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded with restraint, stating, “I can neither confirm nor deny it, even if I wanted to.” He also noted the proliferation of false information, saying, “There is a lot of fake news these days.”

Though Trump’s voice is reportedly recognizable in the audio, no official confirmation has been provided regarding its legitimacy.

Part of a New Political Book

The leaked recording was acquired by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf as part of their research for the book “2024: How Trump Took Back the White House and the Democrats Lost America,” released on Tuesday, July 8.

As the 2024 U.S. election looms in the background of ongoing global tensions, this report adds yet another layer of controversy to Trump’s already combative foreign policy rhetoric. Whether the statements in the recording are authentic or not, they have once again brought Trump’s approach to diplomacy — and his relationship with Vladimir Putin — into sharp public focus.