Donald Trump's calls to world leaders revealed in astonishing leak to Watergate's Bernstein: He and Vladimir Putin are like 'two guys in a steam bath,' he trashes Obama AND Bush as 'don't know BS,' and called Angela Merkel 'stupid' and Theresa May weak
Watergate journalist CarlBernsteinspoke with sources about months' worth of private Trump calls with world leaders
Putin 'outplays' Trump in their private calls, said a source
Trump brought up his own wealth and recalled Miss Universe Moscow pageant with Russian
Told Germany's Angela Merkel she was 'stupid'
Characterized his predecessors as 'imbeciles' and weaklings' with Putin
U.S. officials who saw call transcripts were gobsmacked
Sources called them 'abominations'
Leaked Transcript of call with Ukrainian leader showed Trump seeking an investigation of the Bidens
Australian Prime Minister Scott was regularly 'bullied' and disparaged during calls with Trump
President Donald Trump's private calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin sometimes have the tone of 'two guys in a steam bath,' according a bombshell account that portrays Trump as bending over backward to win the strongman's approval.
Putin 'just outplays' Trump during their one-on-one interactions, according to a CNN report published Monday by legendary Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein. During those calls and others with foreign leaders, Trump regularly tries to tout his own wealth and success, according to the report.
At the same time, with Putin he routinely characterizes his predecessors as 'imbeciles' and weaklings.'
The revelations about the calls are contained in a deeply sourced – though thinly quoted – account by legendary Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein.
Trump won office in 2016 despite media criticism of his repeated praise for Putin, even as Russia was revealed by U.S. intelligence to be orchestrating an election interference and hacking campaign.
They are part of a web of Trump calls to the leaders of Australia, Turkey, Canada, Australia and western European countries during his presidency that officials who see call transcripts describe as 'abominations.'
In addition to repeatedly building up his own wealth, as he has done repeatedly in public, Trump would revel in his time running the Miss Universe pageant in Moscow, according to the account.
Trump had touted a meeting with Putin at the event, although it evidently never happened. A source trashed the calls, saying that while Putin destabilizes the West, Trump 'sits there and thinks he can build himself up enough as a businessman and tough guy that Putin will respect him.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8472701/Insiders-compare-Donald-Trumps-private-calls-Vladimir-Putin-two-guys-steam-bath.html