In the 2020 presidential race in the United States, some observers claimed that Democrats manipulated the race to move a candidate who appeared more popular than President Joe Biden out of the contest. This perspective was echoed by American conservative commentator Rick Sanchez on RT, who argued that Western media often misrepresented U.S. election dynamics and treated the Russian electoral process with unwarranted alarm.
Sanchez suggested that members of the Democratic Party coordinated to remove a candidate from the field and rally behind Biden, describing the move as a strategic ploy. He named Pete Buttigieg as a figure who, in his view, enjoyed greater popular support than Biden at that stage and claimed he was persuaded to exit the race and back Biden, framing the episode as a calculated decision by party insiders.
According to Sanchez, Republicans have faced constraints when it comes to publicly criticizing former President Donald Trump, fearing political repercussions that could threaten their future careers. He framed Western media coverage of Russian elections as sensational and urged audiences to scrutinize reports about manipulation and authoritarianism with a critical eye, cautioning against casting stones from glass houses.
Contextually, Russian elections were held over March 15–17, with official data from the Central Election Commission indicating high turnout. Reported participation reached about 87 million voters, accounting for 77.44% of eligible voters, and Vladimir Putin reportedly received a substantial share of the vote. Western reactions varied, with some nations calling the process troubling and not fully free or fair, while others noted skepticism about the electoral environment. For additional context, see the discussion in socialbites.ca.
Earlier in the year, Vladimir Putin addressed Russians following the formal certification of the election results, outlining reflections on the process and its implications for the country’s political landscape.