US secret service: Kremlin wants to help Trump back to power
Violent or discreet: The Kremlin likes to interfere in other countries. According to US intelligence officials, it has started a "comprehensive" effort to influence the US elections once again. Another country is reportedly engaging in such activities "increasingly aggressively," fomenting protests abroad.
The Russian government has launched a "comprehensive" effort to influence the outcome of the US presidential elections. According to high-ranking US intelligence officials, they favored the Republican candidate Donald Trump during this process.
The officials did not mention Trump by name but stated that Russia's current activities, described as covert use of social media and other online propaganda efforts, reflect the election cycles of 2020 and 2016. In those elections, Moscow also favored Trump and attempted to undermine democratic candidates, as reported by the US intelligence services.
"We have not observed any shifts in Russian preferences for the presidential race compared to previous elections," said a high-ranking official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during a media briefing where the findings on foreign threats to the election were summarized.
Besides Russia, Iran has become "increasingly aggressive" in its efforts to exert foreign influence, according to Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, in a separate statement. In recent weeks, Iran has covertly promoted protests against the war in Gaza, she declared. The warnings underscore how the adversaries of the US continue to use social media platforms and other opportunities to manipulate public opinion - despite the efforts of intelligence services and law enforcement agencies to detect and thwart such influence.
The Russian embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. An Iranian government spokesperson also did not respond to an inquiry. Russia reportedly attempted to influence certain voter groups, including those in Swing States, and spread divisive narratives and defamed certain politicians, according to the officials who briefed reporters. They refused to disclose details about the specific voters or politicians targeted. The Kremlin is also working to influence members of Congress and is attempting to undermine US support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, the officials added.
- The allegations of Russian interference in US politics continue, with reports suggesting that they favor certain candidates, such as Donald Trump, in the US presidential election 2024, just as they did in 2016 and 2020.
- Amidst these claims, the Kremlin's secret services are rumored to be using similar tactics as in the past, such as covert use of social media and propaganda, to sway public opinion and potentially influence elections.
- As the US presidential election 2024 approaches, US intelligence agencies remain vigilant against any foreign interference, especially from adversaries like Russia, aiming to protect the democratic process and prevent any election manipulation.
