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Trump KGB rumor, Pelosi's vineyard & 'Obamacare' royalty payments

Plus: What to know about national park layoffs and potential closures

Author

Izz LaMagdeleine
February 27, 2025

THURSDAY EDITION

Snopes Debunker

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What to know about the rumor Trump was recruited by KGB in 1987

A rumor has spread online that President Donald Trump was recruited as an "asset" by Russian intelligence in the late 1980s and given the codename "Krasnov," following allegations from a former Soviet and Kazakh security official, Alnur Mussayev.

The claim gained traction when The Daily Beast published a now-deleted story titled "Former Intelligence Officer Claims KGB Recruited Trump," using only Mussayev's Facebook post as a source. The article described Mussayev's allegations as "unfounded." Snopes reporters Amelia Clarke and Jack Izzo have the details.

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There's no Ukraine-Russia peace deal — but a US-Ukraine minerals deal could be a stepping stone

The minerals agreement would create a U.S.-Ukraine-managed fund into which Ukraine would pay 50% of revenues from its "natural assets."

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Support Snopes With Our Monthly Membership

Snopes has been busy fact-checking political claims, including breaking down a rumor that Trump was recruited by the KGB in 1987, which we featured at the top of this newsletter. We need your help to keep doing this far-ranging work. By building our membership, we will be able to continue cutting straight to the facts on any subject our readers are interested in. We appreciate any support you can give.

A white woman wearing a pink suit is pictured smiling in front of rows of grape vines.

No, Nancy Pelosi's vineyard didn't receive $14M in USAID funding

A social media post said USAID granted the money for "experimental farming."

A Black man is pictured next to a white man. Behind them, money can faintly be seen

No, DOGE didn't stop supposed $2.6M annual 'Obamacare' royalty payments to Obama

A satirical site facetiously claimed Obama had been charging royalties for the use of "Obamacare" since 2010.

A white arrow is overlaid an image of a store that has a white bullseye sign attached,

Target didn't lose $15.7B after rolling back DEI policies in January 2025

The retailer said the claim, which featured figures reported in 2023 and 2024, was "inaccurate."

Staff Pick

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What to know about national park layoffs and potential closures

The U.S. Department of the Interior said no parks are expected to close in the summer, but park rangers warned of reduced hours and services.