Support The Moscow Times!

Russian TV Runs Conspiracy Theory Blaming Trump for Coronavirus

A Russian state television show has run a conspiracy theory which blames the coronavirus outbreak on none other than U.S. President Donald Trump. 

During Wednesday evening’s edition of “Vremya” on Channel One, host Kirill Kleimenov recounted the theory that the highly contagious virus didn’t originate in a cave of Chinese bats, but was actually manufactured in an American laboratory on Trump’s orders.

Kleimenov pointed to an unmistakable “signature” in the virus’ name which could only be the work of Trump. 

“From the origin of the word, the origin of the virus becomes clearer. What is it called? Coronavirus. Take the word ‘crown.’ It is the basis of the name and comes first,” Kleimenov said. 

“What did Donald Trump, the president of America, China’s main rival in the world arena, do in his previous life? That's right, he handed out crowns at his famous beauty contest. So the origin of the coronavirus, and most importantly, the goals and objectives of its use become absolutely clear,” he continued, admitting that it was just a conspiracy theory.  

In reality, coronaviruses get their name from the virus' appearance, which resembles a crown.

More than 28,000 people have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus worldwide and more than 560 people, mostly in China, have died. There have been two confirmed coronavirus cases within Russia.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue