Putin Says Americans Should Not 'Disrespect' Trump, He's the President, 'Doesn't Need Any Advice'

Newsweek ^ | Tom O'Connor

[2ndDivisionVet]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on U.S. citizens to stop disrespecting President Donald Trump, a trend that the Russian leader called a symptom of a poor political system in the U.S.

Putin, who U.S. officials have accused of swaying the 2016 U.S. presidential race in Trump's favor, broke a streak of hostile diplomatic exchanges between the two leading powers during a speech Thursday in order to defend his former political ally from what he considers unfair criticism at home. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Putin again denied any claims of Russian interference in last year's U.S. elections, asserting that Trump "won honestly" and that he and his supporters have behaved legitimately in response to the current U.S. political climate.

"Inside the country, disrespect is shown for him. This is a regrettable negative component of the U.S. political system," Putin said, according to the state-run Tass Russian News Agency.

"One can argue but one can’t show disrespect, even not for him personally but for those people who voted for him," he added.....

[DIRTYSECRET]

The rats are willing to start a war over Trump using the Russians. In 2020 I hope Trump plays that card.

[bigbob]

If I were Putin, I could not resist screwing with the US Media’s heads, by saying something like “For myself, of course I would have much preferred to see Mrs. Clinton as President...”

[Caipirabob]

They would go insane no matter what.

[dowcaet]

Putin knows damn well the DC politicians by NAME who have taken bribes and kickbacks from Russian entitites including the Kremlin.

[DesertRhino]

Back in the 1970s and 80s, if someone would have told me a Russian leader would be openly disgusted with the American democrat party for its disrespectful behavior ....

[Paul R.]

former political ally

??? Newsweek apparently does not realize how idiotic they sound.

[fr_freak]

If I were Putin, I could not resist screwing with the US Media’s heads, by saying something like “For myself, of course I would have much preferred to see Mrs. Clinton as President...”

Putin's not stupid. He's seriously screwing with people just by releasing this statement. Why would the Russian President give a damn if American people are showing disrespect to their president? He wouldn't, that's why. But he knows all about the controversy over here, and the "Russia Russia Russia" investigations, and he's just pissing gasoline into the fire.

[Recompennation]

Poor is not descriptive enough. How about corrupt, self serving and ignorant politicians and the likewise idiots that facilitated their terms.

[clearcarbon]

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on U.S. citizens to stop disrespecting President Donald Trump, a trend that the Russian leader called a symptom of a poor political system in the U.S.

Putin may not like the example that it being set and doesn't want the same behavior in Russia.

[Ciexyz]

Putin is playing to his audience at home, reinforcing the image that Americans are idiots and yahoos thereby suggesting Russians should be glad they live in Russia and not in the USA.

[KittyKares]

I suspect that Putin knows that our president is far more honorable and accomplished than scumbags Obama and Hillary and that the lies and disrespect hurled towards President Trump are so way off the charts that even Putin is disgusted.

[binreadin]

I think Putin would find a way to quickly put an end to Democrat-like behavior in Russia.

Plus, I think even he knows better than anyone we were all better off when the US and Russia had strong leadership. We are much more at risk now from insane or extreme leaders who would welcome a world-wide conflagration. Putin's family suffered greatly during WWII. I think his main goal is to avoid that type of suffering and instability in his own nation, which does not necessarily make him a friend to us. The word frenemie comes to mind.

[dfwgator]