When journalists asked whether the Kremlin had any expectations for both candidates during the debate, Peskov replied: “Expecting something is not our business, it is the business of American voters.”
Trump and Harris’ televised showdown on ABC News is scheduled for September 11 at 4 a.m. Moscow time. It will take place less than two months before Americans vote in the 2024 presidential election. It will be the first debate between these candidates.
Trump-Harris debate: who does Putin prefer?
Putin joked that Russia was supporting Harris in the election, citing the Democrat’s “infectious” laugh. And that’s why he prefers her to Trump.
He spoke with a rakish smile at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, just hours after the Biden administration accused Moscow of a broad and sophisticated campaign to interfere in the US election. US intelligence agencies believe Putin is hoping Trump will take the White House in November, given his scepticism about US funding of Ukraine’s war machine.
– I said that our favorite, if you can call it that, was President Biden. He is now out of the race, but he called on his supporters to support Ms. Harris, so we will do the same, Putin said.
— The final choice is up to the Americans and we will respect that decision. We are not here to play favorites — the choice is up to the Americans, he added.
Harris “laughs so expressively and infectiously that she must be fine,” Putin said.
— Trump has imposed more restrictions and sanctions on Russia than any president before. If Harris does well, she could avoid such actions, he added.
US national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on September 5 that Putin “should stop talking about our elections, period.”
“He shouldn’t favor anyone one way or another. The only people who should decide Americans are the ones who will be the next president of the United States. We would be very grateful if Mr. Putin would stop talking about our elections and stop interfering in them, Kirby added.
Text published in the American magazine “Newsweek”. Title, lead and subtitles by the editors of “Newsweek Polska”.
