Governors Criticize Trump Over Alleged COVID-19 Test Shipments to Russia
On Friday, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, alongside Governors J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, expressed strong disapproval towards former President Donald Trump. This reaction comes in response to new allegations that Trump, during his presidency, secretly sent COVID-19 tests to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the early days of the pandemic.
These claims are detailed in an upcoming book by journalist Bob Woodward. The book suggests that Putin advised Trump to keep the shipment a secret to avoid political fallout. The Washington Post reported on this book prior to its release, prompting a spokesperson for Trump to dismiss the assertions as untrue.
In a joint statement, the three Democratic governors accused Trump of betrayal. They recalled the challenging times at the onset of the pandemic when their requests for essential supplies, such as testing kits, ventilators, and N-95 masks, were unmet by the federal government. “It was a terrifying time,” they stated, as hospitals struggled under the weight of the health crisis.
Failing to secure federal assistance, the governors said they resorted to purchasing supplies from foreign suppliers, often at inflated prices, using state funds. They called attention to the new allegations, stating, “Now we are reading reports that during this unprecedented and historic public health crisis, while Americans were dying and desperate for life-saving supplies, former President Trump was personally sending testing kits to Russian President Vladimir Putin. For that, we demand answers.”
The governors emphasized that Trump’s alleged actions highlight his well-documented close relationship with Putin, suggesting that such actions could threaten national security. “Former President Trump betrayed us. Americans suffered during the pandemic. 1.2 million Americans died, many because they did not have access to adequate supplies at a critical time,” they wrote. The governors urged Trump to explain his decisions during this crucial period.
This story was originally published by the Wisconsin Examiner
