Former US President and current Republican candidate Donald Trump reportedly informed campaign donors that he would have taken military action against Moscow and Beijing if they had attacked Ukraine and Taiwan during his presidency. The Washington Post disclosed this information on Tuesday, citing sources close to Trump.
According to various donors, advisers, and associates, Trump has intensified his fundraising campaign rhetoric in anticipation of a potential rematch with current President Joe Biden in the upcoming November election.
During fundraising events, Trump, who frequently discusses foreign policy matters, allegedly stated that he would have ordered airstrikes on Moscow in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and he would have done the same if China had attempted to assert control over Taiwan. These statements reportedly caught his donors off guard, as reported by the Washington Post.
In addition to his bold statements, former President Trump is said to have made several ambitious requests for substantial campaign contributions at fundraising gatherings. He has purportedly pledged tax cuts, support for oil infrastructure projects, and other policies that may appeal to his donors.
Legal experts interviewed by the Washington Post have pointed out that Trump’s promises and requests are pushing the limits of federal campaign finance laws.
While Trump is known for his tough rhetoric, such as threatening North Korea with “fire and fury” during tensions over their nuclear and missile programs in 2017, he had previously vowed to resolve the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours if reelected by holding talks with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
An earlier report from The Washington Post indicated that Trump aimed to resolve the conflict by urging Ukraine to acknowledge some of its territorial losses to Russia. In 2022, four former Ukrainian regions voted to join Russia, following Crimea’s example in 2014.
The Trump campaign, on the other hand, has rejected the WaPo report as “fake news.”
In February, Bloomberg also reported, with reference to an adviser to the former president, that if Trump is re-elected, he might use the threat of cutting significant US military aid to pressure Ukraine into negotiating peace with Russia.
Russia has expressed willingness to engage in discussions regarding Ukraine; however, in 2022, Vladimir Zelensky issued a decree prohibiting any negotiations with the current leadership in Moscow.
