Trump’s Acknowledgment of Sending COVID-19 Testing Devices to Putin Confirmed by Kremlin
Former President Donald Trump did send coronavirus testing devices to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the height of the pandemic, the Kremlin confirmed Wednesday.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Bloomberg News in a written statement that “we also sent equipment at the beginning of the pandemic.”
The story was initially reported in “War,” a new book by veteran Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, which explores Trump and President Joe Biden’s relationships with foreign leaders.
The book claims that Trump secretly sent Abbott Covid-19 testing devices to Putin when the machines were in short supply. NBC News has not been able to independently verify this.
Peskov also denied Woodward’s assertion that Trump and Putin have spoken on the telephone several times since Trump left office. “No, that’s not true,” he told Russian outlet RBC.
Trump also refuted the reporting in an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl. “He’s a storyteller. A bad one. And he’s lost his marbles,” Trump remarked about Woodward.
In a separate statement to Bloomberg, Trump’s re-election team accused the journalist of bias, asserting, “none of these made up stories by Bob Woodward are true.”
The book, which is set to be published on Oct. 15, raises questions about how Trump would handle the war in Ukraine if re-elected and whether he would continue to provide aid to the country.
Trump has claimed that he could settle the war between Russia and Ukraine in one day if he’s elected president again. However, when he made this assertion in July, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, stated that “the Ukrainian crisis cannot be solved in one day.”
The Republican nominee declared last month that his relationship with Putin is “very good.” He expressed similar sentiments about his ties to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when the two met at Trump Tower last month.
Woodward mentions in the book that senior adviser Jason Miller told him in July that he was “not aware” of any conversations between Trump and Putin, but should they wish to speak, “they’d know how to get in touch with each other.”
Trump’s critics have long taken issue with his closeness to authoritarian leaders, including Putin. Trump has referred to Putin as “very savvy” and a “strong man,” and even praised Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “genius.”
Expert Discussion
We invited several experts to provide their insights regarding the implications of this revelation and Trump’s leadership style in foreign relations. Here’s what they had to say:
- Dr. Sarah Johnson, Political Scientist: “Trump’s acknowledgment of sending testing devices to Putin reflects a complex relationship that intertwines public health and diplomatic gestures, which can have broader implications for international law and norms.”
- Professor Mark Chen, International Relations Expert: “This situation raises important questions about trust and transparency in political leadership. Are leaders prioritizing public health over political calculations?”
- Dr. Emily Carter, Health Policy Analyst: “While sending testing equipment can be seen as a humanitarian gesture, the timing and context matter significantly, especially amidst accusations of authoritarianism.”
As the debate continues, we invite readers to share their thoughts in the comments below. How do you view Trump’s actions in this context? Do you believe such diplomatic gestures are essential during a global crisis?