Putin says he wants Harris to win 2024 election
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Vladimir Putin on Sept. 2 in Kyzyl, Russia. Photo: Contributor/Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he wants Vice President Kamala Harris to win the U.S. presidential election in November — not former President Trump.
The big picture: Putin's comments came less than 24 hours after Justice Department officials accused Russia of taking part in an illicit scheme to influence the election with pro-Russian propaganda.
Driving the news: Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, Putin reiterated his previous remarks that President Biden had been Russia's preferred candidate in the race.
- Since Biden recommended his supporters back Harris, Russia would do the same, Putin said, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
- "Ultimately, the choice is up to the American people, and we will respect that choice," he added.
- A Kremlin spokesperson had said in an interview that aired last weekend that Russia preferred Harris over Trump because she was a more predictable opponent, Reuters reported.
Zoom in: Putin also joked that Harris "laughs so expressively and infectiously" and that perhaps this indication of her good humor would mean she wouldn't impose sanctions on Russia, per TASS.
- On the other hand, Putin falsely claimed that Trump had imposed more sanctions on Russian than any other president.
What they're saying: Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, told CNN Thursday that the campaign rejects "any foreign interference in this election at all, from any side, from any country."
- "I think everybody knows who dictators and bullies around the world prefer in this election. They prefer President Trump," he added.
Reality check: The U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
- Trump has routinely avoided criticizing Putin.
- Earlier this year the former president sparked outcry by suggesting that he'd encourage Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" if a NATO ally wasn't paying their fair share to the alliance.
Go deeper: Putin claims he prefers Biden over Trump
Editor's note: This story was updated with comments from a Harris campaign spokesperson.
