In a forthcoming book by renowned journalist Bob Woodward, President Joe Biden's candid and often profanity-laced private assessments of world leaders are brought to light, offering a rare glimpse into the president's unfiltered thoughts on figures such as Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin. The book, titled "War," is set to be released on October 15, as reported by CNN.
According to Woodward's account, Biden privately referred to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as "That son of a bitch, Bibi Netanyahu, he's a bad guy. He's a bad f***ing guy!" during a conversation with an associate in spring 2024 as the conflict in Gaza intensified.
Similarly, Biden's harsh words for Russian President Vladimir Putin were captured in the book. "That f***ing Putin," Biden reportedly said to advisers in the Oval Office following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "Putin is evil. We are dealing with the epitome of evil."
The book, based on hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand participants, delves into key moments of Biden's presidency, including the Afghanistan withdrawal, confrontations with Putin over Ukraine, and private clashes with Netanyahu over the Gaza conflict.
Woodward reports that at one point, Biden's national security team believed there was a 50% chance that Putin would use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, a stark increase from earlier assessments. This led to urgent communications with Russian officials, including a tense phone call between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu.
The book also sheds light on former President Donald Trump's relationship with Putin, revealing that Trump had "secretly sent Putin a bunch of Abbott Point of Care Covid test machines for his personal use" during the height of the pandemic. Woodward writes that there may have been "maybe as many as seven" calls between Trump and Putin since Trump left office in 2021.
Regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Woodward describes Biden's roller-coaster relationship with Netanyahu. While publicly supporting Israel, Biden privately expressed frustration with Netanyahu's strategy in Gaza. "What's your strategy, man?" Biden reportedly asked Netanyahu during an April phone call.
The book recounts Biden's attempts to restrain Netanyahu's actions, particularly after Iran launched missiles at Israel in response to an Israeli strike in Syria. "You don't need to make another move. Do nothing," Biden advised Netanyahu, according to Woodward.
As the conflict escalated, Biden's frustration with Netanyahu reportedly boiled over. "He's a f***ing liar," Biden said privately of Netanyahu after Israel entered Rafah, Woodward writes. In a July conversation following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Biden allegedly yelled at Netanyahu, "Bibi, what the f**k?"
Woodward's book also touches on interactions with other key figures in the region, including Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly described MBS as "nothing more than a spoiled child" after a challenging meeting.
