A video of Donald Trump calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to release “dirt” on President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden has gone viral on social media.
The former president spoke on Just The News on Real America’s Voice and alleged the Biden family had received $3.5 million through dealings Hunter Biden had with Russian oligarchs, Newsweek reports.
The video of Trump’s questioning on this and him calling for a favor from Putin has been viewed over 1.6 million times.
A longer extract of the interview was posted on the Real America’s Voice YouTube channel.
“As long as Putin now is, not exactly, a fan of our country, let him explain where…because Chris Wallace would not let me ask the question,” Trump said during the interview.
“Why did the mayor of Moscow’s wife give the Bidens, both of them, $3.5 million.
“That is a lot of money, she gave him $3.5 million. So now I would think Putin would know the answer to that, I think he should release it.
“I think we should know that answer but we won’t get that answer from Ukraine,” Trump said in the clip that has gone viral.
Trump was referring to a 2020 report by Senate Republicans when he questioned this transaction.
Republicans have claimed that Yelena Baturna, one of Russia’s oligarchs, gave this money to a company called Rosemont Seneca Thorton as part of a consultancy agreement.
In the rest of the interview, Trump added that he was sure the Russian President would have the answer. The former president also predicted what China would do with Taiwan next.
He also commented on his interview with former Fox News anchor Chris Wallace and his competency while comparing him to his father.
“Why are they giving somebody, who knows nothing about energy, $180,000 a month?
“I won’t even speak about China because they haven’t gone into Taiwan yet, that will be next.
“But why did the mayor of Moscow’s wife give the Biden family three and a half million dollars? Nobody wants to ask the question.
“Chris Wallace, he is a total lightweight, unlike his father, who interviewed me for 60 Minutes, it was actually a good piece. Mike Wallace was great, he wants to be Mike Wallace but he doesn’t have the talent.
“But why is it that the mayor of Moscow’s wife gave the Biden family three and a half million dollars?
“I think Putin now would be willing to probably give that answer, I’m sure he knows.”
Following Trump’s claims, CNN fact-checked his assertions and highlighted Trump did not provide any evidence that the payment was corrupt or Hunter Biden committed any wrongdoing.
The fact check also highlighted that Hunter Biden has denied these allegations.
Hunter Biden’s lawyer, George Mesires, also told CNN that Hunter Biden was not an owner of the firm Senate Republicans alleged received the million-dollar payment in 2014.
“Hunter Biden had no interest in and was not a ‘co-founder’ of Rosemont Seneca Thornton, so the claim that he was paid $3.5 million is false,” Mesires said.
Hunter Biden was a co-founder and CEO of the investment firm Rosemont Seneca Advisors. It is not clear what connection exists between Rosemont Seneca Advisors and Rosemont Seneca Thornton.
Newsweek said it has reached out to Trump’s office and the White House for comment.
