Kremlin denies meddling in U.S. elections after Trump warning

The Kremlin has vehemently denied any Russian interference in U.S. elections, responding to President Donald Trump's warning that foreign states might attempt to influence the upcoming U.S. elections. Trump specifically named Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea as potential actors.

Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that "Russia has never interfered in the internal affairs of other countries." He added, "We expect that no one will try to interfere in our affairs." Peskov questioned the validity of the evidence presented by the U.S., characterizing Trump's statements as based on unverified and unreliable intelligence. He also recalled previous U.S. investigations into alleged Russian election interference, asserting they found no proof of Moscow's guilt. China echoed a similar stance, rejecting accusations of obtaining U.S. voter data and interfering in the 2020 presidential election as "completely fabricated" and "malicious slander."

Democrats and other critics of Trump accused him of attempting to erode confidence in the election process. They suggested his remarks could set the stage for challenging the results of the U.S. midterm elections in November, particularly if the Republican party faces setbacks. These critics believe Trump's true aim is to sow doubt and spread disinformation, especially in light of ongoing controversies.

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Russia has never interfered in the internal affairs of other countries. We expect that no one will try to interfere in our affairs.

Trump, citing recently declassified data, warned of a "cyber threat to the heart of our democracy," suggesting that voting and vote-counting systems could be vulnerable to foreign cyberattacks. However, these claims have not been independently verified. The lack of concrete evidence led major U.S. television networks to debate whether to broadcast Trump's speech live, with CNN, ABC, and NBC opting not to show it in real-time, while Fox News, CBS, and MS Now aired most of it.

This exchange occurs against a backdrop of ongoing legal challenges for Trump. In 2023, he faced serious charges from Special Counsel Jack Smith for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The charges claim Trump sought to deceive U.S. government institutions and obstruct Congress's certification of Joe Biden's victory by using deliberately false claims of election fraud.

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This is a cyber threat to the heart of our democracy.