Putin slams Trump and Clinton for using 'shock tactics' while campaigning

(Image credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

published 2 September 2016

Although Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have exchanged compliments throughout 2016, Putin claims he has no horse in America's presidential race so long as both candidates are willing to work with Russia. But that doesn't mean he approves of how things are going; Putin slammed both Trump and Hillary Clinton equally when speaking with Bloomberg ahead of the G20 summit.

"They're both using shock tactics, just each in the own way … I don't think they are setting the best example," Putin said, adding that the candidates are both "very smart people" who "understand which buttons you need to press."

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But Putin insisted he didn't have a preference of candidate. "I would like to work with a person who can make responsible decisions and implement any agreements that we reach," Putin said. "Their last name doesn't matter." Watch the interview over at Bloomberg.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.