US Elections, Putin endorses Harris

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin playfully suggested that Russia would prefer Kamala Harris to win the 2024 US presidential election over former President Donald Trump. Putin highlighted Harris’s “infectious” laugh as a reason for this preference, just one day after the US Justice Department charged two Russian media executives with an alleged illegal scheme to influence the upcoming election through pro-Russian propaganda.

Earlier this year, before President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, Putin had remarked widely seen as insincere that he preferred Biden over Trump due to Biden’s predictability as an “old school” politician. US intelligence agencies believe Moscow actually favors Trump, who is viewed as less supportive of Ukraine against Russia.

At an economic forum in Russia’s far east, Putin stated that the choice of the US president ultimately rests with the American people, according to Reuters. However, in a lighthearted manner, he mentioned that since Biden had endorsed Harris, Russia would go along with that preference.

Putin’s comments, made with a smile and met with applause, included praise for Harris’s laugh, which he suggested indicated her well-being and possible leniency towards Russia. He contrasted this with Trump, who had imposed more sanctions on Russia than any previous US president.

Putin concluded by affirming respect for the American electoral process. US intelligence previously noted Russian attempts to support Trump and undermine Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, though the Kremlin denies any interference.

In response to recent US charges, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced that Moscow would target US media.