Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked during an appearance on Russian-state media if Joe Biden or Donald Trump was better for their country.

“Who is better for us? Biden or Trump?” a reporter asked.

“Biden. He is more experienced. More predictable. He is an old school politician,” Putin said.

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“But we will work with any U.S. leader whom the American people trust,” Putin added, according to the Associated Press.

Many have called Putin’s remarks an endorsement for Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election, destroying the ‘Russia collusion’ hoax once-and-for-all.

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“Vladimir Putin further destroys the narrative created in Washington, reveals he wants JOE BIDEN to win the 2024 election,” Chuck Callesto writes.

“Vladimir Putin said that a Biden administration would be more stable and better than a Trump administration. Your reaction?” a reporter asked National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby.

“I think Mr. Putin knows very well what this administration has been doing,” Kirby responded.

“Mr. Putin should just stay out of our elections,” he added.

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From the Associated Press:

Trump, by contrast, immediately hailed the statement at a campaign rally Wednesday night, calling it a “great compliment” to him.

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Putin ordered a hidden campaign to influence the 2016 race in favor of Trump over Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton, with Russian operatives hacking Democratic emails and facilitating their release in the run-up to the election. More recently, intelligence agencies concluded that Putin had authorized influence operations in the 2020 election aimed at denigrating Biden, boosting Trump, undermining confidence in the vote and exacerbating social divisions in the U.S.

Trump and Putin, who have frequently praised each other in the past, have dismissed such findings.

Putin did also blast the White House’s policy toward Russia, describing it as “badly flawed and wrong.”

The remarks come at time of heightened tension between Russia and the West — and deep disagreements in the U.S. about how best to counter Russia and help Ukraine.

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Per CNBC:

Putin’s remarks followed a week of international controversy over Trump’s recent NATO comments and mounting tensions between U.S. Democrats and Republicans over a $95 billion aid package that includes military aid to Ukraine.

The Kremlin head of state will stand in his own election on 15-17 March, but is widely expected to clinch another presidential mandate after leading Russia as prime minister or head of state since 1999.

In the same interview, Putin also appeared to dismiss recently mediatized concerns over Biden’s mental acuity after Department of Justice special counsel Robert Hur said the White House leader “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials” and exhibited poor memory during a relevant interview. Biden has disputed the claims.

Referencing their meeting in Geneva in 2021, Putin said he had noticed no signs of incapacity from Biden. “Yes, he was peeking at his notes from time to time, but, frankly speaking, I was peeking at mine as well,” Putin said, adding that there were “reports of [Biden] banging his head on the helicopter while leaving it, but who didn’t?”

Despite these apparently favorable comments, Putin stressed ongoing disagreement with Biden’s politics, saying “the incumbent administration’s approach is most harmful and erroneous.”

 

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