451
submitted 1 month ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

Ex-U.S. President Donald Trump secretly sent Covid-19 tests to Russian President Vladimir Putin amid a domestic shortage at the height of the pandemic in 2020, The Washington Post reported Tuesday, citing its associate editor Bob Woodward's upcoming book.

Putin, a known germophobe who was widely said to have taken extra precautionary measures including extended self-isolation during the pandemic, reportedly accepted Trump's tests but urged him to avoid going public about them.

"I don't want you to tell anybody because people will get mad at you, not me," Putin was quoted as saying to Trump at the time.

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[-] Fuckfuckmyfuckingass@lemmy.world 115 points 1 month ago

It'd be great if this was reported on while it was happening, instead of being sat on to get a juicy book deal.

[-] tetrachromacy@lemmy.world 24 points 1 month ago

Out of all the BS about this orange baby flooding our collective intakes every single second of every single day, this bit of "light treason" coming to light earlier might not have been as impactful as it could be when the election draws nigh.

Hopefully the Harris campaign seizes on this and beats him like a pinata with it for the next month. American Presidents should not provide aid and succor to their geopolitical enemies.

[-] amorpheus@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

It's grifters all the way down.

[-] peopleproblems@lemmy.world 48 points 1 month ago

"don't tell anyone, they'll get mad at you not me."

No, I'm pretty sure we're all just pissed at both of them equally. All the time. For all reasons. This included.

[-] Jagothaciv@kbin.earth 43 points 1 month ago

It’s not just Trump, we need to get rid of a lot of these rich people. The shit they do that we only find out in books and articles should stop. We are too big a population to have to deal with this fuckery.

[-] BertramDitore@lemm.ee 30 points 1 month ago

Holy shit that’s wild. Just when I think I can’t be surprised by Donald anymore, boom! Woodward does his thing.

As talented as Woodward is, I really dislike that we only find out about these travesties years after the fact, when it’s all but too late to do anything about it. I understand that that’s how he is able to get access to these stories in the first place, but it feels really icky to me.

[-] clgoh@lemmy.ca 21 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

when it’s all but too late to do anything about it

I'm not sure about that. 1 month before the election might be the best time to publish a list of damning facts.

Vote.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 28 points 1 month ago

“I don’t want you to tell anybody because people will get mad at you, not me,” Putin was quoted as saying to Trump at the time.

That's how you know Putin controls Trump. He didn't tell anyone- for a while, anyway. Somehow Bob Woodward is politician kryptonite.

[-] aesthelete@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I think it's Woodward's brand. Trump respects some brands even at his own detriment.

[-] FauxPseudo@lemmy.world 27 points 1 month ago

This could have used more context. At the time Trump said covid wasn't a problem. He said it would blow over. Yet he is sending off tests to protect Putin from this non-issue.

[-] lemmus@lemmy.world 14 points 1 month ago

As if a former KGB officer is sticking an American swab up their nose.

[-] xantoxis@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago

It seems far more likely to me that Putin requested them. There was a brief period where America had a monopoly on anti-COVID medical tech.

The story as reported isn't clear on whose idea it was. For Trump to spontaneously have a brainstorm to help another human being, even if it's Putin, doesn't really check out for me.

[-] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 7 points 1 month ago

Yeah, they went straight in the trash.

Putin, being a clever person, knows that value of the act though.

[-] Podunk@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Putin, being a clever person, used his own swab for the test.

The qtip was not the revolutionary part of the covid test.

[-] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 month ago

I know that, you know that, Putin knows that... do we think trump knew that ;-)

[-] Podunk@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago

What are you talking about? What is "that"?

[-] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 month ago

The qtip was not the revolutionary part of the covid test.

[-] Podunk@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

the cotton on the end of a stick is not the most important part of a covid test.

You could... use a different swab.

[-] Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 month ago

Exactly. Like he couldn't have gone straight to the local factory and grabbed some if he really couldn't get any, or straight to the airplane as it arrived with tests.

[-] floofloof@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

It's possible Putin asked for them as a little loyalty test, and a story to have in his back pocket.

[-] affiliate@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

what are the differences between a rare covid test and an uncommon covid test?

[-] simbico@lemmy.zip 17 points 1 month ago

Wait till you find out about the legendary covid test

[-] WhatYouNeed@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Buy a few more gold boxes and who knows; maybe you'll be lucky!

[-] vxx@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

It was rare because there was a shortage in the US around the time trump stole them from American citizens.

[-] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

Putin's Sock Puppet should have sent his COVID remedy. Fish tank cleaner, Clorox Bleach and a UV light for Vlad to shove down is damn gullet.

[-] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

Trump and putin have also allegedly talked 7 times since he left office

[-] carl_dungeon@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago

Probably sent him a pair of his soiled tighty whities too.

this post was submitted on 08 Oct 2024
451 points (97.9% liked)

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