Several U.S. intelligence sources have stated that Russia still sees former President Donald Trump as its top choice to win the presidency in 2024.

Russia's electoral preferences have not changed from past election cycles, when Moscow aimed to support Trump's candidacy and undercut those of his Democratic rivals, according to the U.S. intelligence community.

Speaking under anonymity, a senior intelligence officer claimed that Russia is using a "whole of government approach" to sway the 2024 election. This includes using "influential U.S. voices" to promote divided narratives, manipulating social media, and amplifying Moscow's preferred rhetoric.

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The source claimed that Russia's backing for Trump is mostly due to the previous president's positions on matters like US assistance to Ukraine and US foreign policy in general. Trump is thought to be seen by the Kremlin as being more advantageous to its goals than the Biden administration, which has provided strong backing for Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.

Trump Team's Response to Intelligence Assessment

The Trump team, however, has retaliated against the intelligence assessment, claiming that it is "backward" and that Trump's "effective peace through strength approach" prevented Russia from waging aggression while in office. Requests for comment have not yet received a response from the Biden campaign.

Additionally, U.S. officials issued a warning, claiming that Russia is using cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology to quickly spread false material on social media by creating accounts that look real. Before Taiwan's elections, this "malign influence accelerant" was already in use, and it is currently being extended to further platforms.

Although China is currently adopting a more cautious stance, the intelligence community observed that Russia still poses a serious threat since Beijing believes that both U.S. political parties are trying to limit its influence. China continues to endeavor to influence public opinion and improve its capacity to collect and process data from American social media sites, though.

As the 2024 election draws near, U.S. authorities are on the lookout for any attempts by foreign players to manipulate contentious subjects and create doubt in the minds of Americans by producing deepfake videos or other means. The intelligence community is working to educate the people and prevent foreign meddling in the political process, and one aspect of that effort is the enhanced transparency surrounding these risks.

Foreign Influence Concerns in 2024 Election

The scheduled date of the 2024 U.S. presidential election is November 5, 2024. Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, is running for re-election, and Kamala Harris is his running partner. Former President Donald Trump has declared his candidacy in the Republican field, joining the likes of Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, albeit a few have subsequently halted their bids. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent, has also entered the contest.

President Biden and former President Trump are in a close contest, according to average national polls, with Trump leading by an average of 2 to 3 points.

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