Featured Image Credit: BBC
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, World News, Russia
Lucy Devine
People have been left confused after US President Donald Trump said he was 'going to Russia' this week.
Viewers claim the president may have mixed up Russia and Alaska as he spoke about his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin.
Last week, Trump shared on Truth Social that a 'highly anticipated' meeting between him and Putin would be taking place on Friday (15 August) in the 'great state of Alaska'.
The US purchased Alaska from Russia way back in 1867, with the two countries geographically located very close together, with approximately 55 miles between them.
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However, with Trump having already declared that he and Putin would be meeting in Alaska, people found it strange that he said he would be 'going to Russia'.
Trump made the comments twice during a press conference about crime in Washington DC.
"This is a tragic emergency, and it’s embarrassing for me to be up here," he said.
"You know, I’m going to see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday. I don’t like being up here, talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once-beautiful capital [is]."
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Trump also added: "We're going to Russia. That's going to be a big deal."
However, later in the briefing, the POTUS explained: "I thought it was very respectful that the president of Russia is coming to our country, as opposed to us going to his country, or even a third, third party place."
One person wrote on X: "Trump just said he was going to 'Russia' when he was referring to his trip to Alaska. He said it twice."
While another said: "Donald Trump has now confused Alaska with Russia for the second time in this press conference. He is going to Alaska on Friday, not Russia. Alaska is a part of the United States."
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And a third added: "Didn't Trump just say he was visiting Russia to meet with Putin when the meeting is in Alaska?"
Trump is meeting with the Russian leader to discuss how to end the war in Ukraine that has been ongoing since February 2022.
"The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska," Trump said.
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Alaska became a US state in 1959 after being a Russian territory.
Meanwhile, Alaska’s senior Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said in a statement: "President Trump announced he will meet with President Putin in Alaska next Friday to continue negotiations to end Russia’s catastrophic war in Ukraine.
"This is another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful agreements. While I remain deeply wary of Putin and his regime, I hope these discussions lead to genuine progress and help end the war on equitable terms."
When asked if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been officially invited to the meeting, a White House official said: "The President remains open to a trilateral summit with both leaders. Right now, the White House is focusing on planning the bilateral meeting requested by President Putin."
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At the time of writing, it remains a Trump-Putin summit.
LADbible has reached out to The White House for comment.