Russian President Vladimir Putin made headlines on Thursday when he humorously declared his support for U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming U.S. presidential election. The comment, made during a Q&A session at Russia’s Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, followed allegations by Washington that Moscow was attempting to influence the U.S. vote.
Putin, known for making sarcastic remarks on American politics, said with a wry smile, “Firstly, [President Joe] Biden recommended all his supporters back Mrs. Harris. Here, we are going to do that too. We’re going to support her.”
Adding to the humor, Putin praised Harris’s infectious laugh, saying, “She laughs so contagiously that it shows everything is fine with her.” He also noted that if Harris performed well in the election, perhaps she would refrain from imposing sanctions on Russia, a veiled reference to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who imposed extensive sanctions during his tenure.
Putin’s remarks came just a day after the United States took action against two employees of the Russian state-run news network RT, accusing them of attempting to influence the upcoming election. Washington imposed sanctions on RT’s top editors in response.
The Russian leader’s comments echoed his earlier jabs at the U.S. political system, which he described as “rotten” last year. He also criticized Washington for its efforts to lecture other nations on democracy. In a previous instance, Putin expressed a preference for President Biden over Trump, calling Biden more “predictable” while the White House dismissed his input, urging him to “stay out” of U.S. elections.
As tensions between Moscow and Washington continue, Putin’s sarcastic endorsement of Harris adds another layer to the complex relationship between the two global powers as they navigate the political landscape leading up to the U.S. presidential election.
