**US Election 2024: What Russians Think**
The US presidential election is just around the corner, and the world is watching. But what do people in Russia think about it? We went to Moscow to find out.
**Celebrating Trump‘s Victory**
Eight years ago, when Donald Trump won the White House, Russians were ecstatic. Some even bought champagne to celebrate. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a Russian politician, splashed out on 132 bottles of bubbly and partied with his colleagues. But that excitement was short-lived.
**Disappointment with Trump**
As it turned out, Trump’s presidency did not bring the changes that many Russians were hoping for. In fact, he introduced some of the harshest sanctions against Russia to date. “The value of Trump was that he never preached on human rights in Russia,” said Konstantin Remchukov, a Russian journalist.
**Putin’s Views**
Today, President Vladimir Putin is being cautious about the prospect of a second Trump term. While publicly backing the Democratic Party candidate, Kamala Harris, many believe this was just a joke from the Kremlin.
**Russian State TV Not Impressed**
Despite Trump’s past friendship with Putin, Russian state TV has not been kind to Harris. One news anchor even suggested she would be better off hosting a cooking show.
**A Super Tight Election?**
Some experts think that Russia might actually prefer a super tight election followed by a contested result. This could keep America busy and distracted from foreign affairs, including the war in Ukraine.
**History of US-Russian Relations**
The relationship between the two countries has soured over the years. It was at its best during the Reagan-Gorbachev era, when they worked together to reduce nuclear arsenals. Today, things are much worse.
**Moscow Mallard and Duck Diplomacy**
In Moscow, we met people who expressed different views on America and the US election. Some were angry with America’s role in global conflicts, while others wanted friendship and peace between the two nations.
**What Russians Think of a Female US President**
When asked about the possibility of a female US president, many Russians seemed open to the idea. “It would be great if a woman became president,” said Marina. “I think it would be different.”
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