President Joe Biden’s colourful nicknames for Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have been unveiled in Bob Woodward’s latest tell-all book, War. The book is set to be released on October 15, and CNN has obtained an early copy, revealing Biden’s candid remarks about his former political opponent and the Israeli leader.
Behind closed doors, Biden is reported to have not held back in his criticism of Netanyahu during the spring of this year as tensions escalated in Gaza. The President reportedly referred to Netanyahu as a “bad guy” and expressed frustration over what he perceived as the Israeli leader’s focus on self-preservation rather than addressing the escalating conflict.
Woodward’s book details a moment when Biden confronted Netanyahu over an Israeli airstrike on Beirut, using strong language to express his displeasure. The President’s frankness extended to his sentiments towards Trump, whom he privately labelled as a derogatory term.
Biden’s public confrontation with Trump during the 2020 debates, where he famously said, “Will you shut up, man?” is contrasted with the more explicit language attributed to him in private conversations. Woodward’s book further delves into Biden’s scathing opinion of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, whom he reportedly referred to as “the epitome of evil.”
Regarding Trump’s interactions post-presidency, the book suggests that the former President and Putin have maintained frequent contact, with reports of up to seven phone conversations since Trump left the White House. Notably, an episode revealing Trump’s alleged secret provision of Covid-19 testing machines to Putin during the pandemic has also emerged from Woodward’s book.
In response to these revelations, Trump’s campaign has vehemently denied the claims, referring to Woodward as “an angry, little man” and dismissing the reported interactions between Trump and Putin as fabricated stories. The contentious relationship between Woodward and Trump has led to legal battles, with the journalist facing a lawsuit over unauthorized recordings used in a previous book.
Despite the controversies surrounding Woodward’s reports, the book sheds light on the candid and unfiltered opinions expressed by President Biden in private settings, offering a glimpse into his nuanced relationships with key political figures on the global stage.