Putin said his country would prefer to see the “more experienced” Biden in the White House than the Republican front-runner,
former President Donald Trump.
The comments, which may be taken more as mischievous meddling than serious, were the Russian leader’s most direct in public on the upcoming U.S. election. They were welcomed by Trump but dismissed by the White House, which urged Putin to “stay out” of the election.
Putin did not hesitate when asked whether Biden or Trump was better for Russia.
“Biden,” Putin said. “He is a more experienced, predictable person, an old-school politician.”
Biden has long been open in his criticism of Putin, previously calling the Russian leader a “killer,” “murderous dictator” and “pure thug.” He spearheaded the Western response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including tough economic sanctions.
The U.S. has also been supplying Ukraine’s military with billions of dollars in crucial supplies, and Putin’s intervention comes as the White House pushes the GOP-led House to vote through a new
package of aid for Kyiv.
Trump, in contrast, has often been complimentary of Putin and praised him as a tough leader. A
Senate intelligence report found “extensive” Russian interference in the 2016 election that Trump won.
The former president
set off alarm bells in Europe after telling an election rally last weekend that he would encourage Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” if it attacked a NATO country that didn’t pay enough for defense.
The Republican front-runner stood by his comments at a rally on Wednesday night. He also responded to Putin’s stated preference for Biden, calling it a “great compliment” and adding that “Putin is not a fan of mine.”
Putin has previously blamed NATO and the bloc’s expansion to the east for ultimately precipitating his attack on Ukraine. Biden has pledged staunch support for America’s NATO allies and
accused Trump on Tuesday of having “bowed down to a Russian dictator.”
Putin said in the interview that Trump has always been perceived as a “non-systemic politician” with “his own view” on how the U.S. should develop relations with allies.
A week earlier, in a
much talked-about interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Putin said he had “a personal relationship” with Trump, but could not remember the last time he talked to Biden. “It’s not about the personality of the leader — it’s about the mood of the elites,” Putin said when asked whether it matters who is in charge in Washington for better relations with Russia.
Addressing the interview with Carlson, Putin said Wednesday that he was surprised by the lack of “sharp questions” from the conservative commentator.
