Fact Check: Did Trump say he'll return Alaska to Russia if Republicans lose in the state?
WASHINGTON, DC: Ahead of the much-anticipated midterm elections, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that President Donald Trump said he would return Alaska to Russia if the Republicans lose the election in the state. The claim has sparked concern and criticism, with users questioning the claim’s authenticity and calling for a fact-check.
Claim: Donald Trump to return Alaska to Russia
According to a viral post that appeared on Facebook, Trump said that if the GOP loses in Alaska in the midterms, he will return the state to Russia.
The claim has also spread on other social media platforms, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. Many believe the claim is authentic, given the United States’ growing closeness to Russia.
Meanwhile, a few others expressed skepticism, dismissing the claim as fake and calling for a fact check.
Fact Check: Donald Trump made no such remark
However, the claim is false. No record that the president made such a remark. There are no official statements, announcements, speeches during campaign rallies, or social media posts from Trump saying that he would return Alaska to Russia if the Republicans lose the upcoming election.
If Trump had really made such a remark, it would not have gone unreported by credible news outlets, but would have made headlines. A search on Google for the claim yielded no credible media reports, except for the social media posts sharing the rumor.
Additionally, the claim originated from the Facebook page of an online satirical newspaper called ‘The Borowitz Report,’ which describes itself in the bio as ‘comedian.’
Donald Trump waives sanctions on Russia
The claim surfaced amid the growing relationship between the US and Russia following the controversial diesel deal between the two superpowers, which drew bipartisan criticism.
Trump even went on to lift several Russian sanctions that had been imposed to pressure the Kremlin and curb its hostilities against Ukraine.
The sanctions were named after the late Senator Lindsey O. Graham, which, according to Trump, allows him to walk back “the application of any sanctions provision with respect to a foreign person.”
“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” Trump said in the order.
“I have submitted to Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States,” Trump added.
