×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Thursday
15
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 9°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> World

Is the soccer ball Putin gave Trump at the Helsinki Summit bugged?

Issue picked up and spread by British media

Newsroom July 19 12:53

“Beware of Greeks bearing gifts” is a phrase referring to the Trojan Horse offered by the Greeks to the Trojans during the 10-year-war. It is a warning against trusting your enemies who offer you presents. This is exactly what the US media are warning US President Donald Trump. The moment Russia’s President Vladimir Putin gifted a soccer ball to his US counterpart Donald Trump during their joint press conference in Helsinki made the round in the global media. But media outlet TMZ urged the secret services of the US to check the ball because according to the site, security experts informed them there was a simple way of putting a bugging device inside that is difficult to detect.

As you know, Trump threw the ball to Melania during the summit and announced it was going to their son, Barron, who’s into soccer.
We did some checking, and there are thin devices that can be stitched inside the ball with a power source that could last around 1 month or longer. Furthermore, we’re told it’s possible for a bug to be nonmetallic, which makes it harder to detect. And, any spy worth his or her salt would know … you don’t activate the bug right away, which would make detection much more difficult.

>Related articles

Bloomberg: Trump’s son-in-law and Steve Whitcoff plan to meet with Putin in Moscow

Iran responds to Trump’s threats: ‘We will strike American bases in neighboring countries if attacked’

China responds to Trump’s Iran tariffs: ‘We will resolutely protect our interests’

Obviously, there would be cause to thoroughly scan the ball for any signal, but in Trump’s world he’s been extremely trusting of the Russians … even inviting Russian media into the Oval.

It’s important to note Trump treasures sports memorabilia — his office in Trump Tower is littered with balls, bats, golf clubs, football helmets and a lot more he’s collected from pro athletes over the years. Barron lives with his parents in the residence quarter of The White House. So, if the ball is out in the open …

source: TMZ.com

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#bugs#Donald Trump#football#Helsinki Summit#russia#Russian President Vladimir Putin#soccer ball#spy#US#Vladimir Putin#world cup
> More World

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

FBI searches the home of a Washington Post journalist who covered the Trump administration’s firing of federal employees

January 14, 2026

RealPolls: New Democracy above its European election result, Plefsi returns to second place – With a change of leader ND loses nearly two points, PASOK gains 5.5

January 14, 2026

Countdown to a U.S. strike on Iran: Americans and Britons evacuate bases, direct assassination threat against Trump from Tehran – Live

January 14, 2026

Direct assassination threat against Trump from Iran: “This time the bullet will not miss the target”

January 14, 2026

32 dead after a crane falls on a passenger train in Thailand

January 14, 2026

Meeting between Mitsotakis and the “agro-leaders” of the blockades set for Friday

January 14, 2026

Pierrakakis: We will achieve even more through collective effort

January 14, 2026

“All cash”: Netflix is preparing a strategic move to accelerate its $83 billion deal with Warner Bros.

January 14, 2026
All News

> Greece

Meeting between Mitsotakis and the “agro-leaders” of the blockades set for Friday

Earlier, farmers who held an assembly in Palamas, Karditsa said “yes” to a meeting with the prime minister with roads kept open and decided not to hold a rally in Athens

January 14, 2026

Taxi strike to continue on Thursday, convoy planned toward the Maximos Mansion

January 14, 2026

Armed robbery in Thessaloniki with gunfire at a pawn shop

January 14, 2026

The frigate “Kimon” en route to the Salamis Naval Base – Watch the video

January 14, 2026

Meteo: Forecasts point to a warm February in Greece, with temperatures up to +1.2°C above average

January 14, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα