The book comes out next Tuesday, but the Washington Post and CNN — who both have Woodward on their payrolls — have “obtained” advance copies and published excerpts, which allege Trump, after his election defeat, maintained a cozy relationship with Vladimir Putin conducting as many as seven phone conversations with the Russian president, and while he was still president, gifted Putin, who was famously paranoid about Covid, testing equipment at the height of the pandemic.

In 2020, Woodward claimed Trump “secretly sent Putin a bunch of Abbott Point of Care Covid test machines for his personal use,” and reconstructed a phone call between the two leaders which allegedly went something like this:

“Please don’t tell anybody you sent these to me,” Putin says to which Trump, who replies, “I don’t care, fine.” 

“No, no,” Putin says. “I don’t want you to tell anybody because people will get mad at you, not me. They don’t care about me.”

Trump denied the exchange ever took place, while in a statement, campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said, “None of these made-up stories by Bob Woodward are true,” and called Woodward an “angry little man” who suffered from a “debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

On the campaign trail, Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), called Woodward a “hack” and said, “Even if it’s true, is there something wrong with speaking to world leaders? No. Is there anything wrong with engaging in diplomacy?”

TRUMP CAMPAIGN CALLS BOB WOODWARD A ‘DERANGED MAN’ AHEAD OF NEW BOOK

BIDEN’S BLAMES BARACK: According to Woodward’s book, President Joe Biden fumed about the fact that when Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014, then-President Barack Obama did nothing in response, thus emboldening Putin to believe he had a green light to do what he wanted in Ukraine.

At one point, an angry Biden unloaded a slew of f-bombs in a purported conversation with a friend.

“They f****d up in 2014,” Biden is reported to have said. “That’s why we are here. We f****d it up. Barack never took Putin seriously. We did nothing. We gave Putin a license to continue!” Biden said bitterly. “Well, I’m revoking his f*****g license!”

Woodward claimed the U.S. intelligence had a “human source inside the Kremlin,” which is why CIA Director William Burns was able to tell Biden with a high degree of certainty that Putin was going ahead with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022.

“This would be so crazy,” Biden is said to have responded. “J***s C****t! Now I’ve got to deal with Russia swallowing Ukraine?”

“That f*****g Putin,” Biden said to advisers after the invasion took place as predicted, “Putin is evil. We are dealing with the epitome of evil.”

BIDEN BLAMED OBAMA FOR RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR, BERATED NETANYAHU, NEW BOOK CLAIMS

‘MOST HAIR-RAISING MOMENT OF THE WHOLE WAR’: In his book, Woodward fleshes out a scary moment at the beginning of the war, first revealed publicly last month at an event in London sponsored by the Financial Times, in which Burns talked cryptically about Putin’s nuclear saber-rattling. “There was a moment in the fall of 2022 when I think there was a genuine risk of, you know, the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons,” Burns told the audience.

Putin has often used the threat of nuclear weapons, hoping to deter the United States and its allies. In December 2021, according to Woodward, Putin “raised the risk of nuclear war in a threatening way” in what he described as a “hot 50-minute call.” Biden is said to have reminded Putin that “it’s impossible to win” a nuclear war.

By September of 2022, Woodward reports U.S. intelligence had concluded Putin was so desperate about battlefield losses, they put the chances he would resort to a low-yield battlefield nuke at 50/50.

In October of 2022, in what Colin Kahl, the Pentagon’s policy chief at the time, described as “probably the most hair-raising moment of the whole war,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin communicated with his counterpart Sergei Shoigu and reportedly warned him of the consequences.

“If you did this, all the restraints that we have been operating under in Ukraine would be reconsidered,” Austin said. “This would isolate Russia on the world stage to a degree you Russians cannot fully appreciate.”

“I don’t take kindly to being threatened,” Shoigu responded, according to Woodward.

“Mr. Minister,” Austin is said to have responded, “I am the leader of the most powerful military in the history of the world. I don’t make threats.”

Good Wednesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE

HAPPENING TODAY: President Joe Biden was supposed to be preparing to depart tomorrow for a trip to Germany, where he intended to lead a weekend meeting of the 57-member Ukraine Defense Contact Group. However, the impending disaster threatened by monster Hurricane Milton is keeping Biden huddled in the White House, getting briefings on the latest weather threat and an update on the progress in dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Vice President Kamala Harris plans to attend the briefing virtually.

Biden says Hurricane Milton “could be one of the worst storms in 100 years to hit Florida.” The White House says he spoke by phone yesterday with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor to ensure they had what they needed from the federal government ahead of the storm’s expected landfall in the Tampa area tonight.

“FEMA has sufficient funding to both support the response to Hurricane Milton and continue to support the ongoing response to and recovery from Hurricane Helene – including funding to support first responders and provide immediate assistance to disaster survivors,” the White House said in a statement. Biden is expected to give an update in remarks from the White House at 5:30 p.m.

BIDEN SCRAPS TRIP DUE TO HURRICANE MILTON

PENTAGON: 5,000 TROOPS MOBILIZED: The Pentagon has deployed some 1,500 active-duty soldiers to assist in hurricane response, but National Guard troops are doing the bulk of the heavy lifting.

“In Florida, more than 5,000 members of the Florida National Guard have been mobilized to prepare for recovery efforts from the imminent arrival of Hurricane Milton,” Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon press secretary, told reporters yesterday. “Additionally, U.S. Army North is preparing high-water vehicles, helicopters for search and rescue operations, forces logistics support to FEMA search and rescue teams, medium-lift helicopters for moving personnel and equipment and command and control and sustainment for DOD forces, and has moved personnel and equipment from their contingency command post to Fort Moore, Georgia as they stand ready to respond to support requests from FEMA and from state leadership.”

ISRAEL DEFENSE MINISTER CANCELS: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was scheduled to meet in person with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon today to consult about Israel’s planned retaliation against Iran for its missile attack last week.

“We were just informed that Minister Gallant will be postponing his trip to Washington, D.C.,” Singh announced at yesterday’s briefing. “Secretary Austin looks forward to seeing him soon.”

No reason was given for the last-minute cancellation, although Israeli media suggested it was because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to speak with President Biden first. That could be a frosty phone call, given how contemptuously Biden has spoken about Netanyahu in private, according to excerpts from Bob Woodward’s latest book, War. 

“That son of a b***h, Bibi Netanyahu, he’s a bad guy. He’s a bad f***ing guy!” Biden is said to have railed about the Israeli prime minister last spring. After Iran’s first attack against Israel in April, in which more than 300 drones and missiles were effectively defeated by Israel and U.S. missile defenses, Biden urged Netanyahu to “take the win” and de-escalate.

When Netanyahu instead authorized an Israeli airstrike that killed a top Hezbollah military commander in Beirut, Biden — according to Woodward — erupted on a phone call. “Bibi, what the f***?” Biden yelled at Netanyahu. “You know, the perception of Israel around the world increasingly is that you’re a rogue state, a rogue actor.”

And after Netanyahu ignored Biden’s counsel not to send Israeli forces into Rafah, he reportedly complained in private that “He’s a f*****g liar.”

ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER’S PENTAGON TRIP POSTPONED AMID TENSIONS BETWEEN BIDEN AND NETANYAHU

THE RUNDOWN:

Washington Examiner: US backs Israeli ‘incursions’ into Lebanon targeting Hezbollah

Washington Examiner: Israeli defense minister’s Pentagon trip postponed amid tensions between Biden and Netanyahu

Washington Examiner: Hezbollah leader backs ceasefire efforts for first time as Israel continues cross-border raids

Washington Examiner: Russia and China are trying to interfere in downballot races: ODNI

Washington Examiner: Israel vowed to wipe out Hamas after Oct. 7. The terrorists are still hanging on one year later

Washington Examiner: Biden blamed Obama for Russia-Ukraine war, berated Netanyahu, new book claims

Washington Examiner: Trump campaign calls Bob Woodward a ‘deranged man’ ahead of new book

Washington Examiner: Hunter prosecution fallout pushed Biden to say he ‘should never have picked Garland’: Book

Washington Examiner: Biden scraps trip due to Hurricane Milton

Washington Examiner: Afghan national arrested over alleged Election Day terrorism plot

AP: Israel’s Strikes Are Shifting the Power Balance in the Middle East, with US Support

AP: MI5 spy chief says Russia and Iran are behind a ‘staggering’ rise in deadly plots

AP: Woodward book reveals Trump’s calls with Putin and Biden’s private remarks on Obama and Netanyahu

Washington Post: 5 key revelations from Bob Woodward’s new book

AP: Russian court sentences a 72-year-old American to nearly 7 years in prison for fighting in Ukraine

Air & Space Forces Magazine: Why Russia Shot Down Its Own S-70 Drone Over Ukraine

Aviation Week: US, Taiwan Eyeing Defense Co-Production, Panelists Say

Air & Space Forces Magazine: To Make ABMS Work, Air Force Hires a Digital Integrator

SpaceNews: Space Development Agency Unveils Plans for Next 200-Satellite Procurement

Air & Space Forces Magazine: How a New ‘Taskrabbit’-Like App Could Help Win Wars, Transform Public Service

Defense News: Anduril Lands $250 Million Pentagon Contract for Drone Defense System

Air & Space Forces Magazine: AFRL Moves Toward Flight Testing Satellite Internet Radios Under Global Lightning

Defense One: How to Build a Multi-Sensor Air Defense Dashboard in Just Two Weeks

The War Zone: New Vision for Lift Fan Aircraft Family Grows from Special Operations X-Plane Program

Militarycom: 3 Airmen Awarded Purple Hearts for Injuries During Deadly Tower 22 Attack in Jordan

WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 9

9 a.m. 1957 E St. NW — George Washington University Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies discussion: “How Is Ukrainian Opinion Changing as the War Grinds On? Discussion of New Data from a Five-Wave Survey,” with Samuel Rogers, political economist; Balint Madlovics, political scientist/economist and research fellow, CEU Democracy Institute in Budapest; and Marlene Laruelle, research professor of international affairs and political science, George Washington University and director, Illiberalism Studies Program https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/how-is-ukrainian-opinion-changing-as-the-war-grinds-on

11 a.m. 1957 E St. NW — George Washington University Space Policy Institute book discussion: Space Warfare Strategy, Principles and Policy, with author John Klein, SPI professor; Col. William Sanders, U.S. Space Force division chief for strategy, policy and plans; and Peter Hays, SPI professor https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/book-launch-space-warfare-strategy

11 a.m. 1789 Massachusetts Ave., NW — American Enterprise Institute in-person and virtual event: “Xi Jinping’s Search for a Lasting Legacy,” with Derek Scissors, senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute; Dan Blumenthal, senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute; Stephen Ezell, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation; Dean Cheng, U.S. Institute of Peace; and moderator Bonnie Glaser, German Marshall Fund https://www.aei.org/events/xi-jinpings-search-for-a-lasting-legacy

1 p.m. 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies discussion: “Youth Resilience in War-Torn Ukraine,” with U.N. Youth Delegate Yurii Lomikovsky https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events

5:30 p.m. 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Johns Hopkins University SNF Agora Institute discussion: “The New Propaganda: Autocracy Inc. and the U.S. Election,” with Sasha Havlicek, CEO, Institute for Strategic Dialogue; Renee DiResta, former research manager, Stanford Internet Observatory; Anne Applebaum, fellow, SNF Agora Institute; and Peter Pomerantsev, fellow, SNF Agora Institute https://hub.jhu.edu/events/2024/10/09/the-new-propaganda-autocracy

THURSDAY | OCTOBER 10

8 a.m. 5000 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, Virginia — Potomac Officers Club 2024 GovCon International Summit: “How international partnerships, coalition warfare and emerging technologies are reshaping the defense landscape and how the U.S. can stay ahead, curve,” with Schuyler Moore, CTO at U.S. Central Command; and Michael Miller, director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency https://potomacofficersclub.com/events/poc-govcon-international-summit/

10 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “The changing nature of counterintelligence threats,” with Michael Casey, director, National Counterintelligence and Security Center; and Suzanne Spaulding, senior adviser for homeland security, CSIS International Security Program https://www.csis.org/events/counterintelligence-20-fireside-conversation

11:15 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: “The Global Risks Facing the Next President,” with Senate Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA). https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/elections-2024-sen-mark-warner

6 p.m. 14th and F Sts. NW — National Press Club book discussion: Twenty Years: Hope, War, and Betrayal of an Afghan Generation, with author Sune Engel Rasmussen, foreign correspondent, Wall Street Journal https://www.press.org/events/npc-headliners-book-event