Former KGB spy Yuri Shvets has made startling revelations, claiming that Donald Trump was cultivated as a Russian asset over a span of 40 years. Shvets, who was stationed in Washington during the 1980s, believes that Trump's ties with Moscow were not a mere coincidence but a calculated effort by the KGB. The 2016 election victory of Trump, according to Shvets, was warmly welcomed by Moscow, which saw him as a valuable asset. Drawing parallels to the infamous "Cambridge Five" British spy ring, Shvets suggests that Trump's involvement with Russia was deep-rooted and strategic.
During the early stages of Trump's business career, several incidents hint at his potential ties with Russian operatives. In 1987, Trump took out a full-page advertisement in major newspapers, headlined with his bold stance on America's foreign policy. This move, unprecedented for someone outside politics, raised eyebrows and hinted at deeper connections. Around this time, Trump purchased 200 television sets for the Grand Hyatt New York hotel from Semyon Kislin, a Soviet émigré who reportedly worked as a "spotter agent" for the KGB, identifying Trump as a potential recruit.
“This is what they exploited. They played the game as if they were immensely impressed by his personality and believed this is the guy who should be the president of the United States one day: it is people like him who could change the world.” – Yuri Shvets
Trump's personal life also came under scrutiny when he married Ivana Zelnickova, a Czech model, in 1977. Her presence reportedly attracted attention from Russian intelligence, intrigued by Trump's growing influence and ambitions. By 1980, Trump had already opened his first major property development, the Grand Hyatt New York hotel, marking the beginning of his rise in prominence.
Yuri Shvets, who contributed significantly to Craig Unger's new book "American Kompromat," reveals details about Trump's relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and his interactions with Russian-linked figures. According to Shvets, Trump had at least 272 known contacts and 38 meetings with Russia-linked operatives during his presidential campaign and transition period.
“He was an asset. It was not this grand, ingenious plan that we’re going to develop this guy and 40 years later he’ll be president. At the time it started, which was around 1980, the Russians were trying to recruit like crazy and going after dozens and dozens of people.” – Craig Unger
Despite these connections, special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation did not establish any conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russian operatives. This outcome left Shvets disappointed as he believed that the investigation lacked depth in examining counterintelligence aspects of Trump's relationship with Moscow.
“For me, the Mueller report was a big disappointment because people expected that it will be a thorough investigation of all ties between Trump and Moscow, when in fact what we got was an investigation of just crime-related issues. There were no counterintelligence aspects of the relationship between Trump and Moscow.” – Yuri Shvets
“This is what basically we decided to correct. So I did my investigation and then got together with Craig. So we believe that his book will pick up where Mueller left off.” – Yuri Shvets
The book "American Kompromat" aims to fill in these gaps by delving into the intricate web of relationships and influences surrounding Trump. Shvets asserts that Trump's vanity and narcissism made him an easy target for recruitment by the KGB. They used a "charm offensive" strategy, exploiting his vulnerabilities through calculated flattery and psychological manipulation.
“Trump was the perfect target in a lot of ways: his vanity, narcissism made him a natural target to recruit. He was cultivated over a 40-year period, right up through his election.” – Yuri Shvets
“For the KGB, it was a charm offensive. They had collected a lot of information on his personality so they knew who he was personally. The feeling was that he was extremely vulnerable intellectually, and psychologically, and he was prone to flattery.” – Yuri Shvets
The revelations brought forward by Shvets have sparked widespread debate over the extent of foreign influence in American politics. While some see these claims as speculative, others view them as significant insights into the potential vulnerabilities within political systems.