"...Trump is objectively the most popular foreign public figure in Russia, second only to Putin in raw media mentions. But it is not for the reasons the White House would prefer. Russian TV routinely features jokes about how Trump can be manipulated into doing things that clearly damage U.S. interests. On-air banter mocks his “psychological deadlines” for Russia to accept a cease-fire as meaningless. Television hosts and studio guests don’t conceal their satisfaction with the current U.S. administration, not just because it includes people like U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard—whom Russian television has called “our girlfriend” for her frequently Kremlin-aligned views—but also because they see the United States’ geopolitical self-immolation as a boon that Moscow could never have engineered on its own. To Russians, Trump is the face—and often the punchline—of that process.
Trump’s malleability is a constant theme in these discussions. He is not portrayed as a serious politician to contend with but as someone between a useful fool and an irritating obstacle. Russian state TV flatters Trump when convenient, mocks him otherwise, and threatens him when he steps out of line. During one panel discussion, a military pundit calmly explained that Russia should force Donald Trump to make decisions that weaken the United States while reminding viewers that Washington remains “an adversary.” Nevertheless, Trump insists that he has a “great” relationship with Putin, who supposedly “respects” him. But it is Putin’s government that micromanages the media outlets that openly ridicule Trump...." -- Alexey Kovalev, writing in Foreign Policy ($), linked by LGM.
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