United States intelligence officials warned that Russia is using social media and direct messaging channels to target specific voting blocs
Russia has reportedly been meddling in United States elections to undermine the Democratic Party and sway voters towards reelecting Donald Trump, according to U.S. intelligence officials.
Trump is friendlier to Russia than Joe Biden, who has called Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” and has remained committed to backing Ukraine since it was invaded in 2022. (This week, Biden announced additional aid for Ukraine as he met with European leaders to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the NATO alliance.)
Related: Joe Biden Makes Surprise Visit to Ukraine Ahead of First Anniversary of Russian Invasion
Russia’s “undertaking a whole-of-government approach to influence the election, including the presidential race, Congress and public opinion,” an official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence told reporters during a July 9 briefing, via CNN.
The official said that the Kremlin has been using social media accounts and coded direct message channels to quietly target swing state voters in an effort to diminish support for Ukraine and rally support for Russia.
The ODNI said that in terms of Russia’s favored candidate, intelligence officials “have not observed a shift in Russia’s preferences for the presidential race from past elections, given the role the U.S. is playing with regard to Ukraine and broader policy toward Russia.”
Related: Moving Photos from the First Year of the Ukraine War, as Russia Continues Its Attacks
Russian influence on U.S. elections dates back to at least 2016, when “persistent Russian cyber efforts” gained “access to election infrastructure,” according to U.S. intelligence.
During the 2020 election, “Russian President Putin authorized, and a range of Russian government organizations conducted, influence operations aimed at denigrating President Biden’s candidacy and the Democratic Party, supporting former President Trump, undermining public confidence in the electoral process, and exacerbating sociopolitical divisions in the US.”
Related: Putin Now Says He Prefers Biden over Trump. The White House Tells Him to Stop Stirring the Pot
Trump, 78, often touts his relationship with Putin, 71, and says that he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in one day if he returns to the White House. He also previously said that Russia helped him get elected in 2016.
Elsewhere in the July 9 briefing, the ODNI assessed that in addition to Russia, China and Iran may try to sway the United States ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
“Russia is a preeminent threat. Iran is a chaos agent, and China is holding fire on the presidential race,” the agency said, via CNN.
The three countries have denied interfering or influencing United States elections, which are scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5.
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