When he was president, Donald J. Trump grew incensed that former Secretary of State John Kerry still talked with foreign officials after leaving office so much so, in fact, that he tried to have Mr. Kerry thrown in prison. Now Mr. Trump is under a harsh spotlight over reports that he did what he once considered a crime. Mr. Trump's possible contacts with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia since departing the White House have put him on the other side of the line that he used to call a betrayal of the United States.
While he repeatedly excoriated Mr. Kerry for speaking with Iranian officials back in the day, Mr. Trump said on Tuesday that it would be a good thing for him to have stayed in touch with Mr. Putin. The former president and current Republican nominee did not explicitly acknowledge talking with Mr. Putin over the past four years, as reported in a new book by the journalist Bob Woodward.
Mr. Trump responded to questions regarding his contact with Putin, saying, 'I don't comment on that, but I will tell you that if I did, it's a smart thing.' He argues that maintaining friendly relationships is beneficial, especially given the nuclear arsenals of both countries.
When asked by Bloomberg's John Micklethwait whether he has spoken to Putin since leaving office, Trump sidestepped a direct answer, suggesting instead that fostering relationships is a good strategy for the country.
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