Russian politicians and pundits react to Donald Trump's win in the U.S. presidential election
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.
Dmitry Medvedev
Russian Security Council deputy chairman and former president
Boris Rozhin
Russian pro-war blogger (893,861 subscribers on Telegram)
Let me play the prophet for a moment.
Trump won’t end the war in a single day.
The only thing beneficial about this situation for Russia is the possibility that a discussion about Ukraine might start directly [between the U.S. and Russia], without Ukraine. Real peace in Ukraine can only be achieved through agreements between Russia and the U.S. Only then will it be possible to end the war. Zelensky and his European satellites simply lack agency and cannot serve as guarantors for anything.
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.
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.