Former President Donald Trump has responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement that he prefers President Joe Biden over Trump. Trump called it a “great compliment” during a campaign rally in North Charleston, South Carolina. Putin had stated that he believes Biden would be a better choice for Russia’s interests but added that he would work with any U.S. leader.
Trump’s reaction comes after his previous comment at a rally in South Carolina, where he said he would “encourage” Russia to do as they please with foreign allies of the United States who don’t contribute their fair share of defense funding. This statement received backlash from critics.
During the rally in North Charleston, Trump explained that it was expected for Putin to prefer Biden because he had put a halt on Russia’s interests while he was president. Specifically, Trump mentioned his role in stopping the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would have carried natural gas from Russia to Europe. He accused Biden of approving the pipeline after he left office, suggesting that Putin wants Biden to win because he believes he will give Russia what they want, including Ukraine.
Trump emphasized his belief that he is the only president in recent history who hasn’t given Russia anything. He has previously praised his relationship with Putin and claimed that if he had been reelected, the Ukraine-Russian war would not have occurred.
However, Trump faced criticism for suggesting that he would “encourage” Russia to act as they please towards NATO allies who fail to contribute their fair share. His allies defended the comment as a joke, but it still received backlash.
At the North Charleston rally, Trump reiterated his stance on not protecting NATO allies who don’t pay their fair share but stopped short of saying he would encourage Russia to attack them.
In response to Trump’s comments, the Biden-Harris campaign accused him of giving Putin permission to “mow down” American allies. They criticized Trump for his approach towards NATO and suggested that he is endangering the relationships with European allies.
Overall, Trump’s reaction to Putin’s preference for Biden showcases his perspective on international relations and his belief that he has been tougher on Russia than his predecessors. However, his comments have also sparked controversy and raised concerns about his approach towards NATO and the United States’ relationships with its allies.
