(Rightallegiance.com) – Russian President Vladimir Putin made headlines Thursday by seemingly endorsing U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential race against former President Donald Trump. During the Eastern Economic Forum held in eastern Russia, Putin, while smiling alongside the moderator, remarked that since President Biden has backed Harris, “we will do the same, we will support her.” He further added, “She laughs so expressively and infectiously that it means that everything is fine with her.”
Earlier this year, Putin had voiced his support for Biden before he dropped out of the race, labeling Biden as a more predictable candidate compared to Trump. Rebekah Koffler, a former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) officer and author of Putin’s Playbook, weighed in on Putin’s remarks. She clarified that the Russians do not endorse U.S. candidates in a conventional sense, but Putin’s regime likely prefers Harris over Trump. According to Koffler, Putin believes Harris would be easier to manipulate, whereas Trump is viewed as unpredictable and harder to control.
Koffler also suggested that Putin’s statements might be part of a broader psychological operation aimed at unsettling the U.S. political landscape, particularly the Harris campaign. “It’s a classic influence operation to unbalance your adversary by mocking, teasing, and pleasing them, or rather appearing to please,” Koffler explained.
Despite Putin’s apparent preference for Harris, the U.S. intelligence community maintains that he would likely favor a second Trump presidency. Earlier reports suggested that Russia engaged in disinformation campaigns during the 2016 and 2020 elections to boost Trump’s candidacy. According to the U.S. Director of National Intelligence’s findings, Russian government entities were involved in efforts to discredit Biden, promote Trump, and deepen divisions within U.S. society.
While Russia denies any interference in U.S. elections, Putin’s stance on Democratic candidates contradicts his long-term strategic interests. Trump’s critical position on U.S. support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia aligns more closely with Moscow’s objectives. Trump’s vice presidential candidate, JD Vance, has also made dismissive comments about Ukraine, reflecting a less interventionist approach in the war.
NATO leaders remain apprehensive about how a potential second Trump presidency might impact the alliance. Trump has previously hinted at pulling U.S. troops from Europe, a move some fear could embolden Putin. While Trump has claimed to have a plan to end the war in Ukraine, he has yet to provide specific details. In contrast, Putin indicated on Thursday that he would be open to peace negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a shift from his earlier stance. Putin also floated the idea of involving Brazil, India, or China as mediators in future talks — a proposal unlikely to be welcomed by Ukraine, given China’s support for Russia during the war.