this post was submitted on 08 Oct 2024
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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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[–] [email protected] 115 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 24 points 3 weeks 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.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago

It's grifters all the way down.

[–] [email protected] 48 points 3 weeks 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.

[–] [email protected] 43 points 3 weeks 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.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks 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.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

“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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

I'm willing to bet Trump had no idea who Bob Woodward was when he initially took his call.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 3 weeks 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.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks 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.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah, they went straight in the trash.

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

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

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Wait till you find out about the legendary covid test

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

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

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks 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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

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

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago

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