Oct 9, 2024 - World

Kremlin refutes Trump denial on sending Putin COVID tests

Ivana Saric

Donald Trump, participates in a town hall at the Crown Center Arena October 4, 2024 in Fayetteville, North Carolina — Former President Trump at a town hall on Oct. 4 in Fayetteville, N.C. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Kremlin on Wednesday confirmed a report that former President Trump sent Russian President Vladimir Putin COVID-19 testing equipment during the height of the pandemic.

Why it matters: The Trump campaign categorically denied new revelations in journalist Bob Woodward's book "War," which renewed scrutiny of the relationship between Putin and the Republican presidential nominee.

Catch up quick: Woodward reported in his book that during the early days of the pandemic, Trump sent scarcely available COVID-19 testing machines for the Russian leader's personal use.

Woodward also reported that Trump and Putin have had "as many as seven" personal conversations since Trump left office in 2021.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said Tuesday that the allegations were "made up stories" and called Woodward "a truly demented and deranged man."

Driving the news: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Bloomberg in a written statement that "we also sent equipment at the beginning of the pandemic," the outlet reported Wednesday.

However, Peskov denied the reported phone calls between Trump and Putin, describing the allegation as "not true," Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Zoom out: "What the hell's wrong with this guy?" President Biden said during a speech in Pennsylvania Tuesday while calling out Trump's decision to send COVID-19 testing equipment to Putin, per a White House pool report.

"Did you ever ... see ... a president who's been so unethical as this president has been?" Biden asked.

Go deeper: Trump has had "as many as seven" phone calls with Putin since leaving office, book claims

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Kremlin refutes Trump denial on sending Putin COVID tests

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