Putin's Comments on Kamala Harris: Strategic Move or Simply Trolling?

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stirred the pot of US politics with his comments at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, expressing a curious endorsement of US Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential bid. Putin, known for his strategic manoeuvres, remarked that Harris’s infectious laughter was a sign that she is “doing well,” while simultaneously criticising former President Donald Trump for imposing severe sanctions on Russia.

This statement comes against the backdrop of newly imposed sanctions by the Biden administration aimed at countering Russian disinformation efforts in the 2024 US elections. US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco revealed that three Russian companies, allegedly directed by Putin, used fake profiles on social media to promote false narratives, aiming to support Trump’s candidacy or that of another Republican nominee.

Yesterday, the United States accused Russia of interfering in the 2024 US presidential election to help Donald Trump get elected.Today, Vladimir Putin endorsed Kamala Harris for US President.

Putin’s apparent endorsement of Harris could be seen as a continuation of his long-standing tactic of influencing US domestic politics. In the past, Putin praised Trump in December 2015, describing him as a “bright and talented person” well before Trump secured the Republican nomination. This endorsement echoed the Kremlin’s disdain for Hillary Clinton, Trump’s likely opponent at the time.

The 2016 Democratic National Committee (DNC) email leak, widely attributed to Russian hackers, further exemplified this strategy. Putin expressed no regret over the leak, suggesting that the content revealed—Democratic officials favouring Clinton—was more important than the breach itself. This incident played into the Kremlin's narrative that American democracy is a facade, where power, rather than principles, dictates outcomes.

Putin's admiration for the cynical political drama “House of Cards,” as noted by exiled Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar, further underscores his view of US politics. Zygar suggested that Putin regarded the series as an "American politics textbook," highlighting his belief in the dark, power-driven nature of Washington’s political landscape.

Putin’s comments on Harris could be interpreted as a calculated attempt to sow discord within the US political system, similar to his praise of Trump in 2015. By endorsing Harris, he may be trying to cast doubt on her candidacy, playing into the divisive narratives that have characterised recent US elections. Alternatively, Putin could simply be trolling Harris, echoing Trump’s frequent jabs at her distinctive laugh.

In the end, whether Putin's remarks are a genuine endorsement or a strategic ploy, they serve to complicate the already volatile landscape of US politics, where foreign influence and domestic polarization continue to be significant factors.