Trump admits he discussed Biden during call with Ukrainian president


President Trump on Sunday acknowledged that he talked about former Vice President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, but defended the conversation, saying he was talking about "all of the corruption taking place."
Trump told reporters he congratulated Zelensky on his election, and told him "we don't want our people like the vice president and his son creating to the corruption already in the Ukraine." Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani have been accusing Hunter Biden of corruption linked to his business in Ukraine, with little evidence, and Giuliani has publicly said he did pressure Ukrainian officials to investigate the Bidens.
The Wall Street Journal reported that over the course of the call, Trump encouraged Zelensky eight times to work with Giuliani on an investigation into the Bidens. A whistleblower complaint sent to the intelligence community's inspector general was reportedly about communications between Trump and a foreign leader and a "promise" Trump made. During the same time period that Trump called Zelensky, his administration held up $250 million in security aid to Ukraine, with the money released this month.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
A horseback safari in the wilds of Zambia
The Week Recommends Unforgettable trip offers chance to see wildlife and experience local villages
By The Week UK Published
-
Erica's harira soup recipe
The Week Recommends Gently spiced Moroccan soup-stew warms the soul
By The Week UK Published
-
The best food gifts for Mother's Day
The Week Recommends Forget flowers, spoil your mum with these foodie treats
By The Week UK Published
-
Reports: Musk to get briefed on top secret China war plan
Speed Read In a major expansion of Elon Musk's government role, he will be briefed on military plans for potential war with China
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump signs order to end Education Department
Speed Read The move will return education 'back to the states where it belongs,' the president says
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses $175M for Penn over trans athlete
Speed Read The president is withholding federal funds from the University of Pennsylvania because it once allowed a transgender swimmer to compete
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump purports to 'void' Biden pardons
Speed Read Joe Biden's pardons of Jan. 6 committee members are not valid because they were done by autopen, says Trump
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
White House ignores judicial deportation blocks
Speed Read The Trump administration deports alleged Venezuelan gang members under a wartime law, defying a court order
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Schumer: Democrats will help pass spending bill
Speed Read The Democrats end the threat of government shutdown
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump pulls nomination of anti-vax CDC pick
Speed Read Former Florida congressmen Dr. Dave Weldon was nominated to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Judges tell Trump to rehire fired federal workers
Speed Read Trump and Elon Musk's DOGE team face a big setback in their efforts to shrink the federal workforce
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published