Russian officials, led by with President Vladimir Putin, say it doesn't matter to Moscow who wins the battle for the White House on November 5. However, observing the coverage of the US elections by the Russian state media, it is clear that Donald Trump is strongly favored, cited by BTA.
The main news program of Russian state television Channel One this month showed video of billionaire Elon Musk and TV host Tucker Carlson criticizing Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, highlighting a series of unconvincing performances. Harris's tendency to burst into fits of laughter, something Putin himself has remarked sarcastically about, is also central to the Russian shows.
At the same time, Trump and his running mate JD Vance were portrayed as persuasive and reasonable on important issues facing "sinister forces," including assassination plots.
The Kremlin stresses that choosing the next US president is a matter for the American people alone to decide, and is ready to work with any elected leader. However, Russian authorities deny targeted coverage of the election, although some former state media officials have spoken of Kremlin guidance.
The state media's apparent preference for Trump is no surprise, as he has demonstrated far less support for Ukraine in the conflict with Russia than current President Joe Biden or Kamala Harris. This raises concerns in Kiev that if Trump wins, Ukraine could lose an important ally.
Trump, who has repeatedly praised Putin, last week blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for starting the war. Harris, on the other hand, has called Putin a "murderous dictator"; and has promised to continue support for Ukraine.
Russian talk shows often feature analysts who express a preference for Trump, claiming that his election will lead to division in the United States. According to Andrey Sidorov of Moscow State University, Trump could spark a civil war and "destroy" the enemy of Russia without requiring military intervention.
A 2017 U.S. intelligence report suggested that Putin led an elaborate influence campaign, supporting Trump and smearing Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Despite differences between the two incumbents, Russian officials are wary of both.
According to them, if Harris wins, it will mean the continuation of Biden's puppet war with Russia, while Trump, although seemingly more favorable to the Kremlin, has imposed sanctions and has not led to an improvement in US-Russian relations.
Despite the differences between the two candidates, the Kremlin does not expect significant changes in relations with Washington, regardless of who wins. According to high-ranking Russian sources, "Neither Trump nor Harris will fundamentally change relations with Russia."