President Joe Biden has caused a stir by stating that he has been acquainted with Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than forty years. During an interview with ABC News’ David Muir, Biden was asked about his thoughts on Putin’s warning about the use of U.S. weapons by Ukraine to target Russian territory. However, a particular aspect of his response has attracted considerable scrutiny, leading to doubts about its accuracy.
“I’ve known him for over 40 years. He’s concerned me for 40 years. He’s not a decent man,” Biden declared.
Watch:
ABC: Putin says the U.S. supplying high-precision weapons to Ukraine for strikes on Russian territory is "direct participation in this war" … does that concern you?
BIDEN: "I've known him for over 40 years." pic.twitter.com/pQwO48e6pN
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 6, 2024
The New York Post notes, “Putin worked as an intelligence officer in the Soviet Union’s spy network from 1975 to 1991, with postings in his hometown of St. Petersburg and the former East Germany before he retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel — making it highly unlikely Biden was aware of the future US adversary’s existence as early as he claimed.”
It also pointed to a 2000 article from The Washington Post stating, “Until he was handpicked in August [1999] by then-President Boris Yeltsin to become prime minister, Putin had never been a public figure.”
Joe Biden just said that he has known Vladimir Putin for "over 40 years."
Either Biden is lying or he is admitting he was in contact with a KGB agent since 1984 or Biden’s brain is so cooked that he doesn’t know what on earth he is talking about. pic.twitter.com/86Tvfajp4Q
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) June 6, 2024
🇺🇸 Biden again got confused: “I’ve known Putin for over 40 years, he’s been bothering me for 40 years.”
He does not know him that long. LMAO pic.twitter.com/bMngycZM07
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) June 6, 2024