- Written by Steve Rosenberg
- Russia Editor, Moscow
image source, Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool
The Russian president told Russian TV correspondent Pavel Zarubin that Joe Biden is an “old-fashioned politician.”
We are confident that President Biden will welcome messages of support ahead of the US election.
But he wouldn't have expected this.
“Who is better for us, Biden or Trump?” Russian television correspondent Pavel Zarubin asked Putin.
“Biden,” President Vladimir Putin quickly replied. “He's a more experienced, predictable, old-school politician.”
Kremlin leaders defended President Biden's ability to carry out his duties.
“When I met Biden in Switzerland, certainly several years ago, some people were already saying that Biden could not function. I didn't see anything like that.
“Yes, he was looking down at the document. To be honest, I did the same thing. It doesn't make any sense. And… [Biden] I once hit my head getting out of a helicopter, but who can say I've never hit my head before? ”
These words came from a Kremlin leader whom President Biden labeled a “murderous dictator” and “pure thug” and accused of having a “greedy lust for land and power.” .
So there are no hard feelings from the Kremlin? Was everything forgiven?
Compare what Joe Biden has said about Vladimir Putin and Russia to what Donald Trump has said in the past.
If you were Vladimir Putin, who would you support?
But if he's a secret fan of Trump, why is the Russian president on record as saying he wants Joe Biden back in the White House?
Imagine if Vladimir Putin publicly said that he prefers President Trump.
What a gift for the Biden campaign.
Donald Trump's political opponents would have jumped at such an endorsement, accusing the former US president of colluding with the Kremlin and having ties to Russia, two years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
It's hardly a vote-winner for Republicans.
Still, even if Donald Trump becomes the official Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election, he won't be able to escape questions about Putin and Russia.
Only now can Team Trump point out these Kremlin comments about Biden and use them to deflect the inevitable accusation that Mr. Trump is the Kremlin's choice.
