How Russian politicians, pundits, and Z-bloggers reacted to Donald Trump’s election win
Donald Trump is set to return to the White House. While Vladimir Putin has reportedly not yet congratulated the former U.S. president on his reelection — and may not plan to, according to the Kremlin’s spokesperson — a number of Russian officials and commentators have already weighed in on Trump’s victory. Meanwhile, ahead of the election, Russian state media worked to paint a grim picture of American politics, contrasting the supposedly impending chaos with Russia’s “stable” system. Meduza explains how Russian propagandists portrayed the U.S. electoral process and shares reactions from key figures in Russian politics.
This story is being updated.
Pre-election fearmongering
In the lead-up to the U.S. presidential election, Russian state media framed the uncertain outcome as a sign of America's crumbling democracy and a harbinger of an imminent “second civil war,” reported Novaya Gazeta Europe. The notion that not knowing the winner in advance is something to fear fits well into the propaganda narrative in Russia, where election results are predetermined and easily manipulated through falsification. NTV criticized the U.S. Electoral College, claiming that Americans supposedly “dream of the Russian model” of “direct elections,” while a correspondent at the propaganda network RT asserted that Americans have zero trust in the electoral system.
Ahead of the vote, Russian outlets sensationalized claims that Americans were “boarding up windows and stockpiling weapons,” as one Channel One correspondent described. RT echoed warnings of potential unrest, asserting that if Democrats “rig the facts,” Republican states would “push back.” The outlet even suggested that Democrats could mobilize groups like BLM and Antifa to incite street violence.
Russian state TV has thrown its support behind Trump while attacking Kamala Harris, largely because Harris, in the context of the war in Ukraine, signaled her intent to continue President Biden’s stance of refusing to engage with Moscow without Kyiv’s involvement. By contrast, Trump has boasted about his ties with Vladimir Putin, even referring to the Russian leader as a friend.
How politicians and commentators reacted to Trump’s win
Dmitry Medvedev
Russian Security Council deputy chairman and former president
Leonid Slutsky
Leader of the far-right Liberal Democratic Party of Russia
Trump was and remains a big-time businessman when it comes to big-time politics. Can we expect changes in the U.S.’s role in the Ukraine conflict, which the Democratic administration has been fueling since 2014? Judging by the campaign rhetoric (if it can still be trusted), the Republican team doesn’t intend to throw even more taxpayer money into the proxy war against Russia. Perhaps there’s a chance for a more constructive approach.
Maria Zakharova
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Kamala Harris turned out to be right when she quoted Psalm 30:5: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Hallelujah, I’ll add for myself.
Those who live by love for their own country, not by hatred for others, are the ones who win.
Sergey Markov
Pro-Kremlin political commentator
Why isn’t Putin congratulating Trump?
1. Because the leader of great Russia doesn’t fuss about these things.
2. Putin is apparently waiting for official, rather than media, announcements of Trump’s victory.
3. Also: The U.S. is currently an adversary to Russia. The U.S. is effectively at war against Russia. Therefore, there’s a possibility that Putin won’t congratulate Trump at all.
4. But still, Trump wants to be a friendly politician towards Russia. So it appears that Putin will congratulate Trump. But not right away.
Ukraine is rejoicing over Trump’s victory. Yes, you might think Markov has lost his mind — after all, wasn’t Zelensky pushing for Harris? But no. Follow the logic: Zelensky’s regime is certainly in mourning, because it supports the war and opposes Trump. But approved, Banderite activists are also in mourning and against Trump.
But the people of Ukraine want peace. The people hope that Trump will push Putin and Zelensky to end the war. So quietly, unknown to the authorities, the people of Ukraine are celebrating Trump’s victory. [...]
Trump is set to call Putin on November 6. And Zelensky. Trump will propose to Putin and Zelensky that they immediately end the fighting along the front line. Neither Putin nor Zelensky is ready for this.
However, both Putin and Zelensky are eager to avoid clashing with Trump at the very start. Therefore, it’s possible that both Putin and Zelensky are preparing some unexpected move in their talks with Trump. A way to say “no” without actually saying “no.”
One way or another, Putin and Zelensky are preparing for a conversation with Trump about peace in Ukraine.
Alexander Dugin
Eurasianist philosopher and far-right Russian ideologue
So we have won. That is decisive. The world will be never ever like before. Globalists have lost their final combat. The future is finally open. I am really happy.
How pro-war ‘Z-bloggers’ reacted to Trump’s win
The Two Majors Telegram channel
609,027 subscribers
In U.S. elections, the winner is always someone with a U.S. passport who most certainly doesn’t want our country to prosper. [Trump or Harris] — it makes no difference.
The Military Informant Telegram channel
609,027 subscribers
There’s no reason to openly celebrate Trump becoming president. That ‘end to the conflict’ [the war in Ukraine] might look very different in Trump’s mind compared to how the average person or the Russian authorities envision it. […] On the contrary, Trump could take aggressive steps, like ramping up support for Ukraine, to try to apply pressure and end the conflict his own way.
Aleksandr Kots
602,168 subscribers
Trump’s victory definitely won’t make things easier for us. He’s smart and unpredictable. And that’s a dangerous combination.
Roman Saponkov
100,876 subscribers
There’s no point in celebrating the new president. It doesn’t matter who wins. Right now, America’s on a course to destroy everything around it, so that only one shining city on a hill remains, one that sucks up all of the best and most necessary things from the ruins — investments, savings, and brains.
Roman Alekhin
182,845 subscribers
Trump and his team are fierce patriots of America. Patriots to their core. And they’re going to do everything to make the U.S. a great power and maintain its role as a hegemony. Most likely, they won’t do this through war, but that doesn’t make it easier for us. Because they can’t defeat us in war, but it’s much easier with soft power.
Trump’s reelection
- Putin withholds congratulatory call to Trump, will wait to see what he does once back in office come January
- Zelensky congratulates Trump on U.S. election victory
- U.S. elections dominate Russian television news broadcasts
- FBI says bomb threats against polling stations in several U.S. states likely originated from Russia