Russian President Vladimir Putin has openly thrown his support behind U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris as the favored presidential candidate for the upcoming 2024 election. This endorsement follows President Joe Biden’s exit from the race in July and comes just as U.S. officials accuse Russia of interfering in the country’s elections once again.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 5, Putin announced, “I told you our favorite, if you can call it that, was the current President Mr. Biden. He was removed from the race, but he recommended all his supporters to support Ms. Harris. So we will do the same. We will support her.” The comments come at a critical moment, heightening tensions between the U.S. and Russia.
Putin’s endorsement is a sharp pivot from previous comments where he appeared to favor Donald Trump. However, in his speech, Putin acknowledged that Harris might take a different approach to U.S.-Russia relations compared to the Republican candidate, stating, “If Ms. Harris is doing well, then maybe she will refrain from actions of this kind,” referring to the sanctions Trump imposed on Russia during his tenure.
U.S. Government Pushes Back on Russian Influence
While Putin publicly picked sides, the Biden administration continues to condemn Russian efforts to meddle in the U.S. electoral process. Just a day before Putin’s remarks, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland revealed details of Russia’s “covert campaign” to influence the upcoming presidential election. The Justice Department even unsealed a 71-page affidavit revealing charges against two Russia-based media employees accused of conspiring to launder money and violate the Federal Agents Registration Act.
National Security Spokesman John Kirby fired back, saying Putin “should just stay out of our elections.” It is evident that U.S. officials are not taking Russia’s latest moves lightly, with ongoing investigations into the country’s alleged creation of fake news sites and propaganda efforts.
A Complex History Between Trump and Putin
Although Donald Trump has been a consistent recipient of Putin’s praise in the past, this recent shift toward Harris raises eyebrows. Previously, the Russian president described Biden as “more experienced, more predictable” than Trump. Even Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, while cautious in assessing Harris’ potential candidacy, pointed out that her actions towards Russia haven’t yet resulted in significant developments, either positively or negatively.
With the U.S. election on the horizon, the backdrop of these geopolitical exchanges is set to add more fuel to an already heated contest. The Kremlin’s recent remarks and the growing concern of Russian interference make the 2024 race even more complex as the world watches closely.
As Russia seemingly casts its vote of confidence for Harris, all eyes are now on how the American electorate will respond to the escalating U.S.-Russia tensions and the political narratives swirling ahead of November 5. One thing is clear: the road to the White House just got a lot more unpredictable.