Putin Ally Says Trump Will Imprison His Rivals if Reelected

A well-known Kremlin propagandist said during a recent television broadcast that former U.S. President Donald Trump would imprison his political rivals if he retook the White House.

Vladimir Solovyov, a prominent figure in Kremlin-backed media and a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, made the statement during a recent episode of his show that airs on Russia-1.

His remarks came during a discussion with his guests about an interview U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland gave to CNN last week. During Nuland's interview, the Biden administration official indicated the U.S. was disappointed Putin didn't share Western ideals.

Solovyov responded to Nuland's remarks by saying that she and other officials not aligned with Trump will be "thrown in jail" if the Republican wins November's presidential election.

Newsweek reached out to a representative for Trump via email on Monday for comment.

The Russia-1 segment began with a short video of Nuland's appearance on CNN.

"We wanted a partner that was going to be westernizing, that was going to be European. But that's not what Putin has done," Nuland said in the clip, before addressing the war in Ukraine that was launched by Putin. "As desperate and awful a situation this is for Ukraine, Putin also destroyed his own country through all of this."

The video of the State Department official continued with her saying, "We will continue to tighten the noose on him [Putin] and force him to come to the [negotiating] table in a serious way or live with the Russia that he's wrought, which is not the Russia he promised his people."

Julia Davis, founder of the Russia Media Monitor watchdog group, posted a translated clip of Solovyov's comments to YouTube on Sunday.

"What kind of Russia, according to Nuland, has Putin promised the people"? Solovyov said, per Davis' translation. "Come to your senses, woman!"

Solovyov then said he didn't want to see a United States with Nuland still in office.

"We want to see the U.S. with totally different politicians, who thank Mother Russia for the fact that it exists!" he said.

The television host then brought up the "noose" comment made by Nuland before insinuating she may soon lose her freedom along with her government position.

"What noose? Whose noose? Look at your own country! You're losing your own country!" Solovyov said. "Does Nuland understand that her days are numbered?"

He added: "I want our audience to clearly understand this: If Trump comes to power, he will imprison all of them...They are scared, because Trump will come and throw them in prison."

To back up his claim, Solovyov played a video of Trump addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday.

"For hard-working Americans, November 5th will be our new Liberation Day," Trump said in the clip from CPAC. "But for the liars, and cheaters, and fraudsters, and censors and imposters who have commandeered our government, it will be their Judgment Day."

The U.S. State Department has said Solovyov spreads disinformation from the Kremlin and wrote on its website in a 2022 list identifying well-known figures involved in Russian propaganda that Solovyov "may be the most energetic Kremlin propagandist around today."

He is also known for making controversial statements, such as suggesting during a fall broadcast of his television show that Germany will eventually exist "under a Russian flag." Earlier this month, Solovyov said Moscow should arm Yemeni Houthis rebels with Russian weapons for use in attacks on U.S. and British ships.

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