Recent revelations from Moscow confirm what many U.S. foreign policy experts have feared for years: Kremlin-backed propagandists have been working to destabilize American society through the promotion of Donald Trump. In a disturbing turn, Russian officials are no longer shy about their intentions. Andrey Sidorov, the Deputy Dean of World Politics at Moscow State University (MSU), recently voiced his support for Trump’s return to the White House, characterizing him as the figure most likely to spark a civil war in the United States.
The Kremlin’s Strategy: Division and Chaos
For years, experts have warned that Russia’s support for Donald Trump is part of a larger strategy to destabilize the U.S. and fracture its democracy. This strategy, centered on sowing division, gained traction during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and continued through his presidency. As a leader, Trump exhibited divisive rhetoric, frequently questioning democratic norms and escalating partisan tensions. From a Russian standpoint, this was an opportunity to exploit America’s deepening political polarization.
A recent statement by Sidorov confirms Russia’s long-held strategy. In a broadcast on Russian television, Sidorov admitted that he “will always root for Trump” because “Trump is a direct path to civil war.” According to Sidorov, a Trump White House would lead to internal conflict, a goal that serves Russian interests by weakening the U.S. on the global stage. The very candid nature of Sidorov’s comments marks a chilling new phase in Russia’s engagement with U.S. politics. As he bluntly stated, “This is a total path to civil war”.
Video in full here:
Right now, practically everyone shut up, even people like Samuel Charap, who specialize in us, who speak the Russian language well and who try to be objective. In other words, this field will be totally purged. I’m anticipating they’ll try to drag in Tucker Carlson. Of course they will, there is no doubt that they will. Anything that is said about Russia, even if it’s neutral, will be a black mark on the person who said it. To be honest, internally, I will always root for Trump. Trump is a direct path to civil war [in the United States]. This is a total path to civil war.
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Now with their US operations in trouble, Kremlin propagandists open up about their goals with promoting Trump for all these years, admitting that a Trump White House assures a US civil war. pic.twitter.com/HtRNOr1Jmr
— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) September 7, 2024
Russia’s Relentless Support for Trump
The Kremlin’s enthusiasm for Trump is not new. From the 2016 election onward, Russian state media and political figures have openly embraced Trump as a figure who aligns with their global interests. In 2018, Trump’s performance at the Helsinki Summit with Vladimir Putin further solidified his image as a Kremlin ally. In that infamous press conference, Trump sided with Putin over his own intelligence agencies regarding Russia’s interference in the U.S. election—a move widely seen as capitulation to the Russian president.
This long-standing relationship was highlighted once again when Russian propagandists, including Sidorov, expressed excitement at the possibility of Trump returning to power. In fact, Sidorov described Trump as a “destroyer” capable of dismantling U.S. institutions, further signaling how much Russia has invested in Trump’s political future. As Julia Davis, the founder of the Russian Media Monitor, pointed out in a recent tweet: “After Putin expressed his ‘concerns’ about Trump’s prosecution, Andrey Sidorov… described him as ‘the destroyer’ that has the potential to dismantle the U.S.”.
Russian state propagandists are resuming their rallying cry in support of Trump as “the destroyer of America”. Trump destroying the U.S. has been their explicit hope and goal for a long time…https://t.co/8sumsm0ITu pic.twitter.com/8yRqBpywjX
— Vlada Knowlton 🇺🇦 (@VladaKnowlton) September 12, 2023
The Kremlin’s Use of Media and Propaganda
One of the key elements of Russia’s strategy has been its sophisticated use of state-controlled media to push its agenda. Sidorov’s statements, made on Russian television, were designed not just for domestic consumption but for the broader global audience. These admissions come at a time when Moscow’s influence operations are under increasing scrutiny.
One recent development that sheds more light on Russia’s tactics involves Dimitri Simes, a long-time U.S. resident and former Trump campaign advisor. Simes was indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for violating sanctions imposed on Russia, having received over $1 million for his work with Russia’s Channel One television network. According to the indictment, Simes and his wife engaged in a scheme to provide services to this state-run Russian broadcaster, even after sanctions were put in place following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Simes’ work with Channel One included hosting and producing programming designed to shape global opinions in favor of Russia. The timing of these efforts—coming during Trump’s presidency—further underscores Russia’s intention to amplify pro-Trump messages and undermine U.S. institutions.
Augusta Free Press shared this nugget:
Dimitri Simes, the former president and CEO of The Center for the National Interest, a Washington, D.C.,-based think tank founded by former president Richard Nixon, was a key player in the Robert Mueller-led investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
In one instance, the Mueller report detailed how Simes, during the 2016 campaign, sent Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, a letter spelling out talking points for Trump about Russia, and also passed along derogatory information about former president Bill Clinton that was shared widely with Trump campaign staffers.
The Mueller report also reported on a meeting that Simes and his think tank arranged during the campaign between Trump and Sergei Kislyak, then the Russian ambassador to the U.S.
Exploiting Trump’s Political Future
Russia’s sustained support for Trump goes beyond mere political preference; it is a calculated effort to weaken the U.S. As Sidorov noted, Trump represents a “direct path to civil war,” echoing the broader Kremlin narrative that chaos in the U.S. would benefit Russia. This admission aligns with a pattern of behavior observed from Russian state actors, who have long promoted Trump as a destabilizing force.
In this context, Russia’s concern over Trump’s legal troubles becomes clear. After Trump was indicted, Vladimir Putin himself expressed “concern” over the charges, a rare public intervention by the Russian president. According to sources, Putin’s support for Trump is not rooted in any ideological alignment but rather in the pragmatic belief that Trump’s return to power would create the conditions necessary for internal U.S. strife, thus diminishing America’s global standing.
Anti-Democratic Forces and a Fractured America
What makes this scenario particularly troubling is how closely it mirrors the Kremlin’s approach to domestic and foreign policy. Russia has a history of suppressing democratic institutions at home while seeking to erode them abroad. By supporting Trump, Russian officials aim to replicate this chaos in the United States. The goal is simple: weaken the world’s most powerful democracy by turning its own citizens against one another.
Sidorov’s candid remarks about the prospect of a U.S. civil war are not just empty rhetoric. They reflect a deeply ingrained strategy designed to exploit the fault lines in American society. Trump’s past actions—his refusal to concede the 2020 election, his encouragement of the January 6th insurrection, and his divisive leadership style—play directly into this strategy. Russian propagandists see Trump’s return as an opportunity to escalate these divisions to the point of open conflict.
The Real Dangers of Russian Interference
The recent statements by Andrey Sidorov, coupled with the DOJ’s indictment of Dimitri Simes, provide a sobering reminder of the Kremlin’s long-term goals. Russia’s support for Donald Trump is not rooted in mutual respect or shared values, but in a cold calculation to weaken and destabilize the United States. Sidorov’s shocking admission that a Trump presidency could lead to civil war in the U.S. is a chilling reflection of how far Russia is willing to go to achieve its aims.
As Americans head into another contentious election cycle, they must remain vigilant about the ongoing threat posed by Russian interference. The stakes are high—not just for U.S. democracy, but for the stability of the country itself.
Featured image via screengrab
