Mark Warren, a retired fire inspector in Anchorage, thought it was a joke. But a few hours after Trump and Putin left Alaska, it suddenly stood there: a brand new motorcycle from the originally Russian manufacturer Ural, complete with sidecar.
The week before the summit, Warren, who already owns a Ural, was interviewed by a Russian TV company that noticed him during a motorcycle tour. He then told them about his problems getting spare parts, according to several media outlets in the US.
It went viral, it went crazy and I have no idea why. I'm just a super normal guy, said Warren to ABC News on Tuesday.
Already two days before Friday's summit, the Alaskan received a phone call about the gift – but it was hard to take it seriously. But shortly after the meeting, he received a new call: the motorcycle was waiting for him at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base, where the two presidents had just met.
The day after, he could pick up the gift at a hotel in Anchorage. On a parking lot stood six men who he believes were Russians – and the olive green motorcycle, valued at approximately 210,000 kronor.
Warren accepted the gift, but emphasizes that he does not want to be involved in any "evil Russian plan".
If they want something from me, they will be deeply disappointed, he says to ABC News.
