Trump Raises Eyebrows After Bungling Location of Putin Meeting: Russia ‘Will Be Delighted’

President Donald Trump raised eyebrows on Monday after he mistakenly said he would be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in “Russia” instead of Alaska.

“It’s embarrassing for me to be up here. You know, I’m gonna see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday,” said Trump during a press briefing. “I don’t like being up here talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once beautiful capital was.”

The president then made the same mistake a second time, telling reporters, “It’s gonna be a big thing. We’re going to Russia. That’s going to be a big deal.”

Since Trump is scheduled to meet Putin in Alaska on Friday, not Russia, his remark raised eyebrows on social media.

“Is he calling Alaska part of Russia?” questioned Daily Beast columnist Julia Davis, receiving more than 28,000 likes.

“This is clearly just a mistake by Trump, but Russian leaders (who claim Alaska is really part of Russia) will be delighted nonetheless,” weighed in Washington Post analyst Josh Rogin.

“He’s going to Russia on Friday? What?” reacted former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul. “Such statements do not inspire confidence that Trump will be ready to negotiate effectively with Putin. Briefings memos for the president usually start with dare and place. He only got one out of two right.”

Others, meanwhile, defended the president, claiming he was “trolling” or that “going to Russia” meant “going to meet with the Russians.”

In September 2024, Trump confused a military base in Afghanistan for a wildlife refuge in northern Alaska.

“We have Bagram in Alaska. They say it might be as big, might be bigger than all of Saudi Arabia. I got it approved,” said Trump. “Ronald Reagan couldn’t do it. Nobody could do it. I got it done.”

Watch above via CNN.