In an embarrassing gaffe on Monday, US President Donald Trump accidentally announcing he was headed to Russia for a high-stakes meeting with Vladimir Putin – when, in fact, the meeting is actually happening
in Alaska this Friday.
“It’s embarrassing for me to be up here. I’m gonna see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday,” he said alongside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi, while speaking about his decision to deploy National Guard troops to the US capital and putting Washington’s police department under federal control.
Trump: “It’s embarrassing for me to be up here. I’m gonna see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday.” pic.twitter.com/ODiE44iXWM
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 11, 2025
While mocking Trump for his faux pas, several netizens highlighted the irony that Alaska was once part of Russia from the late 1700s until 1867, when it was sold to the United States for $7.2 million. Social media users wondered whether this is the “territorial concession” he was talking about during ceasefire talks with Russia.
“Is he planning to sell Alaska to Russia to agree to a peace deal? so that he can get Nobel Peace Prize,” a netizen said. “I mean, if he wants to trade Alaska for peace, so be it,” wrote another person.
Just imagine if Biden had said this:
Trump: “I’m going to see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday.”
Trump is going to Alaska on Friday — which has not been part of Russia since 1867.
Where the hell are you, @jaketapper? Enough is enough. pic.twitter.com/lSdJyO6mzf
— Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) August 11, 2025
wonder what this guy is thinking?
His look shortly before Trump said he’s going to Russia this week. (He’s actually going to Alaska) pic.twitter.com/a2XjpdJsta— Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) August 11, 2025
BREAKING: In a shocking moment, Trump forgets that he’s going to Alaska to meet Putin this week. “It’s embarrassing for me to be up here. I’m gonna see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday.”
Where is the coverage of his cognitive decline? pic.twitter.com/gSaXcyK5wy
— Really American 🇺🇸 (@ReallyAmerican1) August 11, 2025
Trump: “It’s embarrassing for me to be up here. I’m going to see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday.”
Guess Alaska’s going back to Russia.
pic.twitter.com/4AWLHA8lRR— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) August 11, 2025
Others raised questions on Trump’s mental well-being, pointing to his repeated criticisms on his predecessor Joe Biden’s alleged cognitive decline. “Where is the coverage of his cognitive decline?” a user asked, while another said, “It’s not clear whether it’s dementia or just his policy.”
BREAKING: Trump says he is embarrassed to meet with Putin because of crime in DC. He says he is going to Russia for the meeting. He’s not going to Russia. He’s going to Alaska. Which is in the United States. pic.twitter.com/eZptkXL9uQ
— Trump Lie Tracker (Commentary) (@MAGALieTracker) August 11, 2025
Wait a second; has the Trump-Putin summit location been rearranged or has the Trump administration just announced they’ve ceded Alaska to Russia? https://t.co/LrU4KF5ww9
— Jimmy Rushton (@JimmySecUK) August 11, 2025
To put the record straight, Trump is meeting Putin in the US state of Alaska this Friday to try to resolve the three-year conflict, despite warnings from Ukraine and Europe that Kyiv must be part of negotiations. Trump has expressed hope for a “constructive conservation” with Putin, but said it would be up to the warring sides to agree to a potential ceasefire deal.
The upcoming meeting will mark the first encounter between a US president and Vladimir Putin since 2021, when Joe Biden met him in Switzerland. It also marks Putin’s first visit to the United States in a decade – despite an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
