Putin Says Russia Prefers Biden Over Trump in U.S. Election

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he preferred President Biden to Donald Trump in the U.S. election, describing the president as “more experienced” and “predictable” in his first public comments on the race.

In an interview with Russian state television released late Wednesday, Putin said Biden “is a politician of the old school” and added that Moscow would work with any elected U.S. leader. Trump, meanwhile, mentioned Putin’s remarks during a campaign rally Wednesday night in South Carolina.

“He’s just said that he would much rather have Joe Biden as president than Trump. Now that’s a compliment. A lot of people said, ‘Oh, gee, that’s too bad.’ No, no, that’s a good thing.”

Current and former U.S. officials in Washington met Putin’s remarks with skepticism, pointing to Russia’s attempts to boost Trump and harm Democrats in previous elections, according to declassified assessments from intelligence agencies.

“Mr. Putin should just stay out of our elections,” said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Thursday.

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