WASHINGTON, DC — As the upcoming midterm elections approach, a baseless rumor has gone viral across social media alleging that President Donald Trump threatened to cede Alaska back to Russia if Republican candidates lose the state. The bizarre claim quickly drew widespread attention, prompting many users to question its validity and demand verification.
The Rumor: Ceding Alaska to Moscow
The viral narrative first gained traction via a Facebook post, asserting that Trump vowed to return Alaska to Russian control should the GOP suffer a defeat in the territory during the midterm races.
The post amassed hundreds of thousands of views across various digital platforms. While some social media users accepted the premise at face value—pointing to recent geopolitical shifts in U.S.-Russia relations—many others immediately voiced skepticism, labeling it obvious misinformation and calling for a formal fact-check.
Fact Check: Entirely Fabricated
In reality, the claim is completely false. There is zero evidence that President Trump ever made such a statement. No official administration announcements, campaign speeches, or social media posts support the idea that he would hand Alaska over to Russia depending on the outcome of the midterms.
A statement of this magnitude would undoubtedly be picked up by mainstream media outlets worldwide. However, a comprehensive search yields no legitimate news coverage of the quote, with the rumor appearing exclusively in unverified social media posts.
The origin of the falsehood traces back to the Facebook page of “The Borowitz Report,” a well-known satirical publication whose biography explicitly identifies its content as comedy.
Context: Easing of Russian Sanctions
The satirical rumor gained traction against the backdrop of shifting diplomatic dynamics between Washington and Moscow, particularly following a controversial bilateral diesel agreement that drew sharp bipartisan scrutiny.
Adding to the political climate, the White House recently moved to lift several economic sanctions previously levied against Russia to pressure the Kremlin over its actions in Ukraine.
Citing provisions within the legislation named after the late Senator Lindsey O. Graham, the administration argued the framework grants the executive branch the authority to suspend certain foreign sanctions.
“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” Trump stated in an official directive.
“I have submitted to Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States,” the order added.