White House responds to Putin’s support for Harris

The Russian president has no business “favoring anybody one way or another” in the forthcoming US election, John Kirby says

Russian President Vladimir Putin has no business commenting on the US presidential race ahead of the November 5 vote, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby has said. His remark came shortly after the Russian president said Moscow would be rooting for the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris.

Since the 2016 presidential election, US authorities have on multiple occasions accused Russia of attempting to sway public opinion and meddle in the electoral process in the country.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Kirby said: “Mr Putin ought to stop talking about our elections, period. He shouldn’t be favoring anybody one way or another.”

He stated that the only people who would determine the outcome of the presidential election were the American people.

“And we would greatly appreciate it if Mr Putin would, A, stop talking about our election and, B, stop interfering in it,” the White House representative reiterated.

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Addressing an audience at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok earlier that day, Putin noted that he had previously expressed support for US President Joe Biden, but the veteran politician had since been “removed” from the race.

The Russian president added that, since the incumbent US president had called on his supporters to back Kamala Harris as the new Democratic hopeful, the Kremlin was inclined to do the same.

According to Putin, the way Harris “laughs so infectiously” suggests that “everything is going well for her.”

He also expressed hope that Harris’ positive disposition could mean that she would refrain from imposing as many sanctions on Russia as former US President Donald Trump. Putin recalled that the Republican had introduced more restrictions on Moscow than any other president in American history.

When asked whether he would call to congratulate the eventual winner in November, the Russian head of state replied by saying it had been a long time since he had any direct contact with Western European or US leaders.

“In the end, the choice is up to the American people and we will treat their eventual decision with respect,” Putin concluded.

Commenting on the remarks on Thursday, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said: “He endorsed Kamala, and I didn’t know if I was supposed to call him up and say, ‘Thank you very much’ … I don’t know exactly what to say about it. I don’t know if I’m insulted or he did me a favor.”