Vladimir Putin has been the Russian President since 2012 and was also President between 2000 and 2008. As many know, he is a controversial leader. On Thursday, September 5, 2024, Putin seemingly chose a side for the US presidential race.
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According to reports, the Russian President endorsed Kamala Harris, the current Vice President who was chosen by Joe Biden when he pulled out of the presidential race. However, it is unclear what Putin’s motivations were when he backed Harris.
Moreover, as expected, Donald Trump, who claimed to have a near-death experience with Harris' ex,has reacted to Putin’s alleged endorsement. Also, did you know this isn’t the first time Vladimir Putin has endorsed previous candidates?
Vladimir Putin allegedly endorsed Kamala Harris
As reported by Aljazeera, Vladimir Putin, who is allegedly seeking 'immortality', announced he was backing Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential elections during a speech in Moscow on Thursday, September 5. However, it has also been suggested that the Russian President was ‘joking’ or ‘trolling’ Harris’ campaign.
This theory is because Biden’s administration has made allegations that Russia is planning to interfere in the voting in November to favour Donald Trump, as per Aljazeera. During his speech, Putin endorsed Harris as Biden dropped out of the race and the Vice President was his best bet.
The Russian President proceeded to add that Harris has an ‘expressive and infectious laugh’, which suggests ‘she’s doing well’. As reported by Aljazeera, Putin’s alleged endorsement comes after the US Department of Justice accused Russian-owned state broadcaster RT of campaigning to sway the US vote.
Donald Trump reacts to Vladimir Putin’s alleged endorsement
As per Huffington Post, on Friday, September 6, Donald Trump reacted to Putin’s alleged endorsement and told his supporters in New York he wasn’t sure what to think and whether or not he should be ‘insulted’.
I don’t know exactly what to say about that. I don’t know if I’m insulted or he did me a favour?
However, by the following day, Trump had made up his mind and announced at a rally in Wisconsin that he was ‘very offended’ as he ‘knew him well’.
I knew Putin. I knew him well. And you know, he endorsed, I don’t know if you saw the other day, he endorsed Kamala. He endorsed Kamala. I was very offended by that.
The former US President went on to add that Putin was playing chess and maybe it was said ‘with a smile’, but ‘no one is going to figure it out’.
I wonder why he endorsed Kamala. Now, he’s a chess player.
Should I be upset about that? Was it done with a smile? I think it was done maybe with a smile. Who the hell knows.
Vladimir Putin has previously endorsed US presidential candidates
As per Aljazeera, this isn’t the first time Vladimir Putin has endorsed a US presidential candidate. Indeed, in October 2004, the Russian President endorsed Republican incumbent President George W Bush, adding that if Bush lost, it would cause the ‘spread of terrorism’.
In 2008, Putin suggested that he was leaning toward Barack Obama over Republican John McCain, but never endorsed him . Then in 2012, when Obama ran for office a second time, Putin had praised the US President and told Russian state media that he was ‘an honest person who really wants to change much for the better', as per Aljazeera.
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Sources used:
Aljazeera: ‘Russia backs Kamala Harris’: Putin’s history of US election ‘endorsements’
Huffington Post: ‘Now Trump Has Decided He Is 'Very Offended' By Putin's Endorsement Of Kamala Harris’
