The release of the audio from 2024 suggesting he had threatened bomb strikes on Moscow— as well as Beijing—will be assessed closely in those capitals who might see it as a signal that the U.S. president is prepared to back his foreign policy with military force.

Donald Trump reportedly threatened to “bomb the s*** out of Moscow” in a bid to deter Vladimir Putin from attacking Ukraine. The US President made the comments at a private gathering of wealthy donors in 2024, according to the audio obtained by CNN.