Trump makes another geography blunder after calling Alaska ‘Russia’ in rant ahead of Putin meeting

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump faced fresh scrutiny after referring to St Petersburg by its Soviet-era name, “Leningrad,” while speaking about his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

The comment came just two days after Trump twice said he was “going to Russia” for the summit, even though it will take place on US soil.

Donald Trump claims media would call ‘bad deal’ even with free Moscow and Leningrad

In a Truth Social post criticizing what he described as “very unfair media” coverage, Trump said the press would still say he had made a “bad deal” even if the United States got “Moscow and Leningrad” without giving up anything in return.

The president appeared to overlook the fact that St Petersburg has been called by its current name since 1991, when residents voted to abandon the Soviet label. Notably, Putin was a former mayor of St Petersburg.

It was Trump’s second location-related misstep in three days. Earlier, during a press conference, he twice claimed he was “going to Russia” to meet Putin, despite the fact that Alaska has been part of the United States since 1959.

“You know, I’m going to see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday,” Trump said before repeating the remark later in the briefing.

Karoline Leavitt addresses Donald Trump’s Alaska-Russia mix-up

The meeting with Putin is scheduled for August 15, 2025, in Alaska to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022. Trump had previously posted about the meeting on Truth Social, calling it “highly anticipated.”

Asked about the apparent mix-up during a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt largely sidestepped the error.

“Perhaps there are plans in the future to travel to Russia and on Friday the president will be meeting with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska, as you know,” Leavitt said when pressed by a reporter.

Internet reacts to Donald Trump’s ‘Leningrad’ reference

The remarks sparked a wave of online reactions. “Trump in a Truth Social post refers to freeing ‘Leningrad.’ St Petersburg hasn’t been called that since 1991,” wrote CNN’s Aaron Blake on X.

“Since his brain was frozen in amber sometime in the ‘80s, this tracks,” a Bluesky user posted.

“‘If I got Moscow and Leningrad free’?! WTF does that mean?? What kind of ‘deal’ is he thinking he is negotiating? He’s going to try to give away Alaska, isn’t he,” said former FBI agent Asha Rangappa.

Other reactions included “Dementia?” from one user and “To be clear, Trump means getting a free Trump hotel in Moscow and St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad),” from political scientist Michael McDonald.

CNN’s Isaac Dovere pointed to a similar slip by former President Joe Biden in 2023, noting, “A year and a half ago, Biden referred to Macron as ‘Mitterand from Germany — I mean, from France’ though Mitterand had been dead since 1996 (and was never from Germany). This morning, Trump referred to Leningrad, which hasn’t been the name of the Russian city since 1991.”

Some defended Trump, with one user writing, “He’s making a historical reference to an event. Do you know the history?”

Another added, “Actually, many locals, especially those who embrace communism, still refer to the city as Leningrad. The President knows what he is doing. Do you?”

Others were less charitable, with one more user writing, “Trump probably hasn’t looked at a map or read a book since 1991.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.