Trump declines to confirm talk with Putin but says, if I did, it’s a smart move

Former President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, 78, declined to say if he has been in contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since leaving the White House, but he called it a “smart thing” if he had such communication during an interview at the Chicago Economic Club on Tuesday.
The interview, conducted by Bloomberg Editor-In-Chief John Micklethwait, covered a range of topics, including Trump’s relationship with Putin, the 2020 election, and his economic proposals for a potential second term.
When asked about his post-presidency communication with Putin, Trump responded, “Well, I don’t comment on that, but I will tell you that if I did, it’s a smart thing.”
“If I’m friendly with people, if I have a relationship with people, that’s a good thing, not a bad thing,” he added, reported ABC News.
This comment came amid speculation about Trump’s interactions with Putin, fuelled by reports in journalist Bob Woodward’s book suggesting multiple conversations between the two since Trump left office in 2021.
Despite repeated praise for Putin during his presidency, including expressing belief in Russian intelligence over US agencies regarding the 2016 election, Trump insisted that he had been tough on Putin.
He specifically mentioned his decision to end the Nord Stream II pipeline as an example of his hard stance.
In the first and possibly last presidential debate before the upcoming election set for November, which was held on September 10 on ABC News, there was a sharp exchange regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. During this debate, Trump asserted he could end the war in a single day, while Kamala Harris argued that If Donald Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv.
Micklethwait pressed Trump on the subject, but the former president reiterated, “I said I don’t comment on those things.” Trump also refuted claims about post-presidency contact with Putin during a recent ABC News interview, where he stated, “No, I have not,” in response to questions about recent communication.
On the topic of the 2020 election and the violent events of January 6, Trump maintained that the transition of power to President Joe Biden was peaceful.
“People were angry,” but described the day of Biden’s inauguration as “love and peace,” said Trump. He pointed to “strange things” that happened at the Capitol, including claims that people were waved in by police.
Looking ahead to a potential second term, Trump discussed his plan to impose significant tariffs on imports, which he believes would encourage companies to relocate to the US.
Trump dismissed concerns from economists, who argue that US consumers bear the brunt of tariffs through higher prices, and reiterated his stance that foreign countries pay for tariffs.
“The higher the tariff, the more likely it is that the company will come into the United States and build a factory,” said Trump, reported ABC News.
Micklethwait challenged Trump’s tariff plan, stating that such moves would take “many years” to impact the economy, but Trump remained firm in his belief that his economic strategies would drive major growth and bring jobs back to the US.
Trump’s proposals, including additional tax cuts and heavy tariffs, have drawn criticism for potentially adding to the national debt. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that Trump’s plan would increase the national debt by $7.5 trillion, compared to $3.5 trillion under Kamala Harris’s proposals.