Vladimir Putin: Donald Trump is ‘not my bride’
Russian President Vladimir Putin just cracked a gay joke about US President Donald Trump.
The Russian leader made the jibe in a press conference this week, after repeated questions about his relationship with the President of the United States.
Many key members of the Trump administration have deep ties to the Russian government, US security services also say there is strong evidence about Russian intervention in the US election.
But Putin brushed off talk of any close relationship with President Trump when asked if he was ‘disappointed’ at Trump’s actions as President.
He said: “You asked if I’m disappointed with Trump. This is a very naive question. It’s not like he’s my bride, I’m not his groom.”
Of course, cracking a gay joke in public in Russia is pretty perilous territory if you don’t happen to be the President. Mentioning homosexuality in public is enough for threats under the country’s gay ‘propaganda’ law.
(Photo By Chris Kleponis – Pool/Getty Images)
The Russian leader continued: “We are statesmen, and each country has their interests.
“Trump, what he does is based on the US national interest, and what I do is based on Russia’s national interest.
“I really hope that we will be able to work out some kind of compromise in our bilateral and international issues. We want to resolve all of those issues in the interests of both American and Russian people.”
President Putin declined to comment on speculation about impeachment proceedings against Trump.
He said: “To your question about the US President, it would be very inappropriate for us to talk about [issues] inside the US. It’s not our business. It’s up to people inside the US.”
However, Mr Putin hit out at “ridiculous” US sanctions on Russia, claiming they were being put “on the same board” as North Korea by the Americans.
Donald Trump previously clarified that he definitely isn’t dating Vladimir Putin.
In an interview prior to taking office, Trump insisted: “I don’t know what it means by having a ‘relationship’ [with Putin].
“I mean he was saying very good things about me, but I haven’t spent time with him… I didn’t have dinner with him. I didn’t go hiking with him.
“I don’t know… and I wouldn’t know him from Adam except I see his picture and I would know what he looks like.”
“I have no relationship with Putin. I have no relationship with Putin.”
Comedian Peter Serafinowicz helpfully dubbed over Trump’s voice with the same exact words:
