Russian officials have accused U.S. President Donald Trump of overstating America’s contributions to World War II, with prominent figures characterizing his statements as historically flawed and self-serving.
Last week, Trump stated on Truth Social that the United States was the leading contributor to the Allied victory, downplaying the significant roles played by European nations, many of which experienced heavier losses.
“Numerous allies and friends commemorate May 8th as Victory Day, but our contribution was far greater than any other nation in achieving a victorious outcome in World War II,” he remarked, declaring May 8th as WWII Victory Day and suggesting that Veterans Day on November 11 should instead be called WWI Victory Day.
“We triumphed in both wars; no one could match our might, courage, or military genius, yet we seldom commemorate anything,” Trump continued. “We will begin to celebrate our victories once more!”
These comments elicited backlash from Russia, which observes the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Soviet Union on May 9. President Vladimir Putin has frequently accused Western nations of attempting to “rewrite” the history of the war.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, was one of the first to respond to Trump’s assertions, labeling them as “pretentious nonsense” and highlighting that the Soviet Union suffered 27 million losses during the conflict. “Victory Day belongs to us, and it is celebrated on May 9,” he posted on social media.
On Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova supported Medvedev’s criticism, stating to the state-run Sputnik news outlet that Trump’s comments reflected his habitual exaggeration.
“It’s evident that he has always magnified everything—both as an individual and in his roles as a politician and businessman,” she explained. “He does not conceal this; it is his strategy. His wealth and political career are built on inflated claims.”
In a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Putin asserted that both Russia and Israel are committed to “upholding the truth regarding World War II events,” according to a Kremlin summary.
Putin has often utilized World War II history to foster patriotic unity in Russia, portraying the contemporary Russian military as a successor to the Soviet Red Army and justifying the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as a fight against “Nazism.”
