Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s election victory lacks credibility and he indirectly criticized President Trump for his congratulatory phone call.
“When I look at a Russian election, what I see is a lack of credibility when tallying the results,” McConnell said.
“Calling him wouldn’t have been high on my list,” McConnell added.
McConnell, R-Ky., compared Putin to Cold War-era dictator who would win elections handily.
Putin won with nearly 77 percent of the vote, but amid reports of ballot stuffing and other election irregularities.
President Trump phoned Putin on Tuesday to congratulate him on the victory and said the two would be “meeting in the not-too distant future to discuss the arms race, which is getting out of control.”
McConnell said calling Putin was Trump’s prerogative as president.
“The president can call whomever he chooses,” McConnell said.
Earlier Tuesday, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., criticized Trump for calling the former KGB agent-turned Russian leader.
“An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections,” McCain said in a statement.
