The following is an overview of cartoons on the U.S. elections, published in Russian pro-Kremlin media outlets.
The main cartoons' leitmotif is that both Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump are inadequate for the job of U.S. president. There is no shared monolithic view shared by Russian politicians and political commentators, but Trump is perceived as someone who can foster U.S.-Russia relations. Chairman of the Upper House Committee for Foreign Affairs, Konstantin Kosachev, said that Trump has little political experience and he does not yet understand that spontaneous decisions are not always optimal ones, even though Trump's victory would open "a window of possibilities" between Russia and the U.S.[1]
A senior researcher at the Institute of U.S .and Canada at the Russian Academy of Sciences, Georg Mirzoyan, wrote that in case of a Republican electoral victory, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump would "understand each other." According to Mirzoyan, Moscow likes Trump's political pragmatism, since he talked about discussing cooperation with Russia. Mirzoyan also added that even though he believes that the Republican candidate will be a tough negotiator and will protect U.S. interests, "the complicated Trump is ten times better than the radical Hillary."[2]
Commenting on the recent accusation by the Democratic campaign that Russia is behind the DNC email hack, the head of the State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee Alexey Pushkov, wrote on his twitter account: The spirit of McCarthyism is being resurrected in the U.S. McCarthy was chasing "the reds". The U.S. press has found Trump to be a Putin's agent.' The senator is dead, his legacy [remains] alive."[3]
Trump Ready To Recognize Crimea As Part Of Russia
Vitaly, Vk.com/13studiya, July
28, 2016.
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a banner saying: Crimea is yours!
Earlier last week, Trump was asked: "I would like to know if you became president, would you recognize (inaudible) Crimea as Russian territory? And also if the U.S. would lift sanctions that are (inaudible)?"
Trump answered: "We'll be looking at that. Yeah, we'll be looking." (Washingtonpost.com, July 27)
The Baltic States Find Protection In Trump's Hair
Vitaly Podvitsky, Ria.ru, July 21 2016.
On July 21, the New York Times published an interview with Donald Trump. Concerning NATO, Trump said: "If we cannot be properly reimbursed for the tremendous cost of our military protecting other countries, and in many cases the countries I'm talking about are extremely rich. Then if we cannot make a deal, which I believe we will be able to, and which I would prefer being able to, but if we cannot make a deal, I would like you to say, I would prefer being able to, some people, the one thing they took out of your last story, you know, some people, the fools and the haters, they said, 'Oh, Trump doesn't want to protect you.' I would prefer that we be able to continue, but if we are not going to be reasonably reimbursed for the tremendous cost of protecting these massive nations with tremendous wealth." Concerning the Baltic States, Trump said that "they have an obligation to make payments." Answering the question of whether NATO members, including the new members in the Baltics, could count on the U.S. to come to their military aid if they were attacked by Russia, Trump answered: "Have they fulfilled their obligations to us? If they fulfill their obligations to us, the answer is yes."[4]
Neither Candidate Is Qualified To Be President
Twitter.com/sharzhipero, May 23, 2016.
On the table badges: candidate Hillary Clinton, candidate Donald Trump.
Statue of Liberty: Can I see all of them [all candidates for the U.S. presidency]?
U.S. President Barack Obama: That's all of them
Statue of Liberty: Oh, f**k..
The People Prefer Putin To The U.S. Presidential Candidates
Vitaly, Vk.com/13studiya, May 27, 2016.
While Clinton and Trump are fighting in the ring, the public cheers for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Twitter.com/sharzhipero, May 27, 2016.
Forced to choose between Clinton and Trump, the voters write-in Putin.
Obama: "Throw it away! Burn it! Destroy! NOW!"
Secretary of State John Kerry: "And what do we do with the remaining 85% of the ballots?!"
Clinton Won't Be A Good President
Vitaly Podvitsky, Sputniknews.com, July 27, 2016
Sputniknews.com comments on the above cartoon: "Despite all the skeletons in her closet, Hillary Clinton was officially nominated as the Democratic Party's presidential nominee. It seems like nothing can stop the first ever female presidential candidate from being nominated, except herself which is quite apparent from the recent DNC email leak?"[5]
Vk.com/13studiya, May 20, 2016.
To the left is Crimean Republic Prosecutor-General Natalya Poklonskaya. The caption on top reads: She will enter the burning house, and will stop a galloping horse!" The sentence echoes the 19th century Russian poet Nikolay Nekrasov, who wrote that a Russian woman can "stop a galloping horse and enter a burning house." In contrast, the Hillary Clinton caption reads: "She will set the house on fire, and will let all the horses loose!"
Endnotes:
