Putin favors more “consistent” Biden over Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed inquiries about U.S. President Joe Biden’s age and health, noting that Biden would be nearing 82 shortly after the election

Russian President Vladimir Putin characterized U.S. President Joe Biden as a more “foreseeable” figure compared to Donald Trump, expressing the Kremlin’s readiness to cooperate with whoever emerges victorious in the upcoming election.

In response to a journalist’s inquiry about Russia’s preference between the Democratic incumbent and the leading Republican candidate Donald Trump, Putin remarked, “Biden, being more seasoned, is a known quantity, an established political figure.” 

Putin dismissed queries regarding Biden’s age and health despite the president approaching 82 years just after the election. He referred to a summit in Geneva three years ago, stating, “Even then, there were talks about his limitations, but I personally did not witness any such shortcomings.” 

American polls indicate significant apprehensions about Biden’s advanced age. This concern has been exacerbated by a couple of recent incidents where Biden mistakenly identified European leaders with deceased predecessors. The White House vigorously defended the president’s capabilities following a special counsel report characterizing him as an “elderly man with a faltering memory.” Biden reacted vehemently to the accusation but then further muddled the situation by confusing the presidents of Egypt and Mexico. 

Similarly, Trump, aged 77, has also recently erred in recalling individuals’ names, mistaking his former rival for the Republican presidential nomination, Nikki Haley, for former U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi. 

Nonetheless, Putin vehemently opposed the foreign policy pursued by the Biden administration, stating, “What we need to scrutinize is the political stance, and that of the current administration is exceedingly detrimental and misguided.” 

Despite Biden’s strong criticisms of Putin, Russia’s preference for him is evident, even after Trump openly expressed admiration for the Kremlin leader on multiple occasions. The Republican faced severe backlash after insinuating that he would encourage Russia to attack any NATO member that he felt had not contributed enough financially to support the alliance. 

Source: AFP