Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Americans to show more respect for their president in response to a question posed to him at the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday.
In his remarks, Putin called Americans’ disrespect for President Trump a “negative” feature of the American democratic system.
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“Inside the country, disrespect is shown for him. This is a regrettable negative component of the U.S. political system,” Putin said. He continued, saying that “one can argue but one can’t show disrespect, even not for him personally but for those people who voted for him.”
“Mr. Trump was elected by the American people. And at least for this reason, it is necessary to show respect for him, even if you do not agree with some of his positions,” he added.
The Russian leader told his audience that those who ascend to the highest office in the U.S. possess a “certain talent” that allows them to survive America’s bruising political process.
“I believe that the president of the United States does not need any advice because one has to possess certain talent and go through this trial to be elected, even without having the experience of such big administrative work. He [Trump] has done this,” the Russian leader said. “He won honestly.”
Relations between the U.S. and Russia have soured over the accusations of Russian election meddling during the 2016 presidential election. Putin’s comments about Trump came the same day that U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley accused the Russian government of committing “warfare” against the United States.
“When a country can come interfere in another country’s elections, that is warfare,” Haley said Thursday at the George W. Bush Institute.
“It really is, because you’re making sure that the democracy shifts from what the people want to giving out that misinformation,” she added.
Putin continues to deny the claims that Russia interfered in the election.