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Russian Arms Dealer Offers Trump Asylum in Russia, Citing Imminent Threat to Former President’s Life

ByAlki David

Apr 8, 2023

In a surprising turn of events, Viktor Bout, the infamous Russian arms dealer turned politician, has offered former US President Donald Trump asylum in Russia, claiming that his life is in danger if he remains in the United States. Bout, known as the “merchant of death,” made the offer during an interview with a Russian state-TV channel.

According to Bout, he sent a telegram to Trump warning him of an imminent threat to his life and urging him to flee to Russia for safety. Bout suggested that the threat comes from Trump’s own government, as a result of the Manhattan district attorney’s probe into allegations that Trump falsified business records to hide a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

The offer of asylum from Bout, who was portrayed by Nicolas Cage in the 2005 film “Lord of War,” has raised eyebrows among political analysts. It comes at a time when Trump is facing mounting legal challenges and scrutiny over his business dealings and alleged ties to Russia.

While the former president has not commented on Bout’s offer, it is unlikely that he will take up the offer of asylum. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has called the Manhattan district attorney’s probe a “witch hunt” and a “hoax.”

The offer of asylum from Bout also raises questions about the relationship between Russia and the former US president. Trump has faced criticism over his perceived coziness with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his administration was dogged by allegations of collusion with Russia during the 2016 election.

Whether or not Trump takes up the offer of asylum, the fact that a notorious arms dealer turned politician has offered him refuge in Russia highlights the growing political turmoil and instability in the United States. As the country grapples with multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty, and political polarization, the offer of asylum from Bout is a stark reminder of the challenges facing the US and the global community.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.