Guess Who Vladimir Putin Is Endorsing For US President

Russian President President Vladimir Putin holds up a glass during a toast at a luncheon hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has put in his pick for who he’d like to see win the American presidential election next year.

Can you guess who it is? And no, it’s not Steven Seagal.

Speaking to a reporter after the annual event, Putin spoke candidly about Donald Trump, going as far to call him the “absolute leader” in the American primaries.According to BuzzFeed’s translation of the remarks, Putin said: “He’s a really brilliant and talented person, without any doubt. It’s not our job to judge his qualities, that’s a job for American voters, but he’s the absolute leader in the presidential race.” Putin continued in his praise of the billionaire real estate mogul. Noting Trump’s sentiments about having a strong relationship with the Russian government, Putin said: “He says he wants to move on to a new, more substantial relationship, a deeper relationship with Russia, how can we not welcome that? Of course we welcome that.” h/t IJReview youngcons

In the past, Trump has stated that he is good friends with Putin and would have far better relations with him than Obama.