Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Massachusetts) dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin's endorsement of Vice President Harris in the election as “classic double entendre.”
Appearing on CNN's Casey Hunt on Thursday, Auchincloss was asked what he thought about the Russian president's comments endorsing Harris.
“I think this is classic double-dealing and disinformation,” he responded. “It's clear that Russians have long believed that Donald Trump is a fan of Putin.”
Auchincloss cited the 2018 meeting between former President Trump and Putin in Helsinki as an example of how Trump trusted the Russian leader more than his own intelligence agencies.
“Of course, Russia wants someone like that,” he said. “He would be their pawn.”
Speaking at an event in Vladivostok, Russia on Thursday, Putin cited Harris' “contagious” laugh and joked about his support for her.
Putin had previously supported President Biden, but after Biden withdrew his support and endorsed Harris, he said he would “do the same.”
“She laughs expressively and contagiously, which means all is well with her,” he said, asserting that Harris could lift sanctions imposed by Biden on Russia.
Putin has denied in the past meddling in US elections and said it was for the American people to decide.
Harris campaign spokesman Ian Sams also responded to the comments on CNN.
“I think we all know who the autocrats and tyrants of the world prefer in this election: They prefer President Trump,” he told Hunt. “We reject the divisive, autocratic leadership that comes from someone like Putin.”
Sams condemned Putin's invasion of Ukraine and said the Harris campaign rejects foreign interference in elections.
“I think anybody who's paid attention to elections over the last 10 years knows what Putin says, where he stands on the election and who his supported candidates are,” Sams said.
