Fact Check: did Putin ask Trump to extradite Fauci to Russia

Published June 23, 2025

•by TruthOrFake AI

✗

VERDICT

False

# Fact Check: Did Putin Ask Trump to Extradite Fauci to Russia? ## What We Know Recent claims have surfaced suggesting that Russian President Vladimi...

Fact Check: Did Putin Ask Trump to Extradite Fauci to Russia?

What We Know

Recent claims have surfaced suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin requested former President Donald Trump to extradite Dr. Anthony Fauci to Russia. These claims are rooted in a broader narrative of disinformation regarding Fauci's role during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a fact-checking analysis by Lewis & Clark Professor John Parry, there is no legal basis for extraditing a U.S. citizen to Russia, as the United States does not have an extradition treaty with Russia, and Congress has not authorized such actions (source-1, source-2).

In addition, a 2018 interview with Trump revealed that he had not considered asking Putin to extradite Russian officials charged with hacking during the 2016 election, highlighting the complexities and legal limitations surrounding extradition requests (source-3).

Analysis

The claim that Putin asked Trump to extradite Fauci appears to stem from misinformation and lacks credible evidence. The assertion is further complicated by the legal realities of extradition between the U.S. and Russia. As noted by Professor Parry, the absence of an extradition treaty means that even if such a request were made, it would not be legally viable (source-1, source-2).

Moreover, the sources promoting this claim, including some social media posts, have been criticized for their reliability. For instance, a fact-check from Yahoo News pointed out that there is no substantial evidence supporting the claim that Putin demanded Fauci's extradition, and the narrative appears to be part of a larger disinformation campaign (source-8).

In contrast, credible sources emphasize the improbability of such an extradition occurring, given the legal frameworks involved and the political context. The U.S. ambassador to Russia and Trump's national security adviser both indicated that any demands for extradition would be futile due to the lack of legal grounds (source-3).

Conclusion

The claim that Putin asked Trump to extradite Fauci to Russia is False. There is no legal basis for such an extradition, and credible sources have debunked the narrative as part of a broader disinformation campaign. The lack of an extradition treaty between the U.S. and Russia further solidifies the implausibility of this claim.

Sources

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