Bob Woodward’s recent claims about Donald Trump sending Covid test kits to Vladimir Putin during the height of the pandemic have been confirmed by the Kremlin. However, both Trump and the Kremlin denied that the former U.S. president has had calls with Putin since leaving office. The controversy adds a new chapter to the already scrutinized relationship between the two leaders.
Trump Allegedly Sent Covid Test Kits to Putin During Pandemic
According to a new book by journalist Bob Woodward, former President Donald Trump sent Covid-19 test kits to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the peak of the pandemic in 2020. The tests were reportedly scarce at the time, raising questions about the secretive nature of this exchange. The Kremlin confirmed on Wednesday that Trump had indeed sent medical equipment to Russia during that time, but this exchange of resources between the U.S. and Russia had already been publicly acknowledged.
Woodward’s claims suggest that Trump secretly sent Abbott Point of Care Covid test machines specifically for Putin’s personal use. These details have stirred controversy due to the sensitive nature of medical supplies during the early stages of the global health crisis.
Denials from Trump and His Campaign
Despite Woodward’s revelations, Trump denied sending the Covid test kits to Putin in a response to ABC News. Additionally, Trump’s campaign has pushed back on other claims from the book, including allegations that Trump had multiple phone calls with Putin after leaving office in 2021.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also denied the claims of recent calls between Trump and Putin, telling the Russian newspaper RBK that there had been no such conversations. Trump’s campaign aide Jason Miller also stated that he had not heard of these calls, while Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed the book’s stories altogether, describing Woodward as an “angry, little man.”
Kremlin Acknowledges Past Collaboration
The Kremlin’s confirmation about receiving Covid-19 testing equipment from the U.S. reflects an ongoing collaborative effort during the pandemic. The sharing of medical resources between the two nations during the pandemic was known at the time, and this particular exchange of equipment is being framed as part of that broader effort.
However, the controversy surrounding the alleged secrecy of the test kits intended for Putin’s personal use remains a contentious point. These details, combined with the denial of the post-presidency communications, continue to fuel speculation about the relationship between Trump and Putin.
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