Putin calls legal proceedings against Trump a ‘politically motivated persecution’ that ‘shows the rottenness of the American system’
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Vladimir Putin has slammed legal proceedings against former US president Donald Trump as ‘politically motivated persecution’ that ‘shows the rottenness of the American system’.
Trump, who is the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is facing a series of criminal cases in which he is charged, among other things, with trying to overturn his 2020 presidential election defeat by Joe Biden.
The Kremlin, which cultivated friendly relations with Trump during his presidency, has repeatedly spoken out in defence of the former president, who is facing a series of charges linked to election interference.
‘As for the persecution of Trump, for us, in the current environment, it’s good because it shows the rottenness of the American system,’ Putin told an economic forum in the Far East.
‘It is a politically motivated persecution of one’s competitor, he said, in an apparent swipe at the Democrats and President Biden, adding: ‘and this shows who we are fighting… As they said in Soviet times: “the bestial face of American capitalism.”‘
Trump made a series of bizarre comments last month about his relationship with the Russian dictator, saying he had been the ‘apple of Putin’s eye’
Relations between Washington and Moscow, strained by a litany of issues under Putin, have hit new lows since the Kremlin launched large-scale hostilities in Ukraine.
Putin said he did not expect any change in US foreign policy stance towards Russia regardless of ‘whoever will be elected president’ next year.
This is despite various promises from Trump and other Republican candidates that they will reduce funding for Kyiv if they are picked as the party’s presidential candidate.
In a typically belligerent speech, Putin also accused Washington of stoking anti-Russian feelings among ordinary Americans.
‘Current authorities have directed American society in an anti-Russian spirit,’ the Russian leader said.
‘They’ve done it and now somehow turning this ship in the other direction will be very difficult.’
Trump is facing string of serious charges in various states, including 13 counts brought against him in Georgia most recently. Pictured: His mugshot at Fulton County Jail taken last month
It comes after Trump made a series of bizarre comments last month about his relationship with the Russian dictator.
He speculated that had he still been in power when Russia launched its illegal invasion of Ukraine: ‘Putin would’ve never gotten into Ukraine, but that’s just on my relationship with him. My personality over his.
‘I was the apple of his eye and I would say, “Don’t ever do it.” It was tough stuff there but he would have never done it.’
Trump is facing string of serious charges in various states, including 13 counts brought against him in Georgia most recently, which including racketeering and conspiracy charges.
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