In a recent interview, veteran Watergate reporter Bob Woodward shared insights about his forthcoming book, “War.” He claims that former President Donald Trump secretly sent Covid-19 testing machines to Vladimir Putin at a time when such resources were critically scarce. This bold assertion has drawn sharp criticism from the Trump campaign, which has firmly rejected the allegations, calling them lies.

Responding to Woodward’s claims, Trump labeled the reporter as “a storyteller. A bad one. And he’s lost his marbles” in an interview with ABC News. Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, backed this dismissal in a statement to the BBC, describing the book as “trash” and suggesting it would be more appropriately shelved in a discount bookstore than among serious literature.

Set to be released next week, the book reportedly elaborates on ongoing communications between Trump and Putin, facilitated by an unnamed aide. A New York Times report describes an incident where a Trump aide was asked to leave the room at Mar-a-Lago so Trump could engage in a conversation with Putin, implying that their contacts may have continued multiple times since Trump left office in 2021. However, the Kremlin has denied the existence of such discussions.

While Woodward’s book does not disclose the specifics of their conversations, it does include remarks from a Trump campaign official disputing the aide’s claims. Woodward admitted he could not independently verify the aide’s account, and other sources have reportedly maintained that there were no communications between Trump and Putin since the former president’s tenure ended.

The Trump campaign hasn’t just questioned Woodward’s credibility; they have also asserted that Trump did not provide access for the creation of what they consider to be a “fiction” book. They described Woodward as “demented” and highlighted his ongoing legal disputes with Trump over previously published recordings from an earlier investigation.

In “War,” Woodward indicates that during his presidency, Trump sent a number of Abbott Point of Care Covid test machines to Putin, who was reportedly anxious about catching the virus. The book claims that Putin requested discretion regarding the transaction, concerned it would damage Trump’s reputation. Trump’s reaction—stating he didn’t care about others’ opinions—raises intriguing questions about the nature of their relationship, especially as the next election cycle approaches.

Additionally, the book delves into Trump’s impact on foreign conflicts during his presidency, as well as President Joe Biden’s introspections regarding his own decisions, particularly in light of his son Hunter’s legal issues. Reports suggest that Biden has expressed regret about appointing Merrick Garland as attorney general, a choice that has become contentious following Garland’s recent actions as a special prosecutor.