Donald Trump recently left the public scratching their heads with a historical blunder. As he prepares to meet Vladimir Putin on Friday, August 15, at a U.S. military base in Alaska, Trump has been speaking extensively about Russia.
Meeting With Putin and Ukraine on the Agenda
Russia’s war with Ukraine is expected to dominate the discussion. Trump warned Moscow it would face unprecedented sanctions if the conflict didn’t resolve peacefully. Given the stakes, this meeting has drawn significant attention.
Cyber Thr**t Comment Sparks Shock
Earlier this week, Trump surprised citizens when he speculated that Russia might retaliate against the U.S. with a massive cyber-a**ack.
The Leningrad Slip
On Tuesday, August 12, Trump took to Truth Social to discuss media coverage of his upcoming conversation with Putin. He wrote:
“If I got Moscow and Leningrad free, as part of the deal with Russia, the Fake News would say that I made a bad deal!”
This comment sparked confusion online. Leningrad hasn’t been the city’s name since 1991, when it officially reverted to Saint Petersburg.
Many pointed out that Trump had visited Moscow and the city in 1987 with his ex-wife Ivana to explore a potential Trump Hotel site.
One user commented:
“Trump mentioning Leningrad is wild, considering the city hasn’t existed since 1991.”
A Quick History of Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg, formerly Petrograd and later Leningrad, was founded by Tsar Peter the Great on May 27, 1703. It became the capital of the Russian Empire from 1712 to 1918 and is associated with the empire’s rise and cultural history.
Full Truth Social Post
Trump’s post continued:
“Very unfair media is at work on my meeting with Putin. Constantly quoting fired losers and really dumb people like John Bolton, who just said that, even though the meeting is on American soil, ‘Putin has already won.’ What’s that all about? We are winning on EVERYTHING. The Fake News is working overtime (No tax on overtime!). If I got Moscow and Leningrad free… the Fake News would say I made a bad deal! But now they’ve been caught. Look at all of the real news that’s coming out about their CORRUPTION. They are sick and dishonest people, who probably hate our Country. But it doesn’t matter because we are winning on everything!!! MAGA.”
White House Clarifies Meeting Location
Trump’s remarks come days before his planned meeting with Putin. His earlier claim that he would fly to Russia instead of Alaska caused confusion. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified:
“Perhaps there are plans in the future to travel to Russia.”
