On Thursday, Russian commentators mocked claims of Moscow’s interference in the US presidential election, with President Vladimir Putin adding to the sarcastic tone by jokingly endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
The US Justice Department had announced on Wednesday that the Russian state broadcaster RT was running a covert campaign to sway American public opinion ahead of the election. Two RT employees were charged, and 10 individuals and two entities were sanctioned, with several Kremlin-linked websites seized.
While the Justice Department didn’t specify which candidate the campaign was supporting, released strategy notes pointed to former President Donald Trump as the intended beneficiary, even though names were redacted.
The Kremlin has consistently dismissed accusations of interfering in US elections, including the 2016 campaign. A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson responded to the latest allegations by threatening retaliation against US media in Russia.
Margarita Simonyan, head of RT and sanctioned by the US, mocked the accusations on social media, sarcastically saying, “They called from 2016 and want all their tired clichés back.” Simonyan has been described by the US Treasury Department as a central figure in Russia’s efforts to influence foreign politics.
While attending an economic forum in Vladivostok, Putin didn’t directly address the recent allegations but commented on the election. With Biden having withdrawn from the race and Harris stepping in as the Democratic nominee, Putin humorously remarked that since Biden had asked his supporters to back Harris, Russia would do the same. He also joked about Harris’ infectious laugh, suggesting that she might reconsider imposing more sanctions on Russia if she’s in good spirits.
Putin’s past support for Trump is well-documented, with US intelligence confirming that Russia had backed Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections through hacking and covert social media operations. Despite Putin’s earlier remarks that Biden might be a better option for Russia due to his predictability, Moscow is still believed to prefer Trump, who has expressed admiration for Putin and hinted at reducing aid to Ukraine.
Simonyan, despite mocking the current allegations, had previously admitted in a Russian talk show that RT is involved in “info wars” by spreading pro-Kremlin narratives in the US. She explained that RT creates multiple information outlets that appear unaffiliated with the Russian government, complicating efforts by US intelligence to track them down.
As tensions rise, Russia has intensified its crackdown on independent media, activists, and citizens, stifling free expression within its borders. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry has promised to retaliate against US media operating in Russia in response to the sanctions.
