During a press conference in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to endorse Donald Trump.

While Putin said he was prepared to work whomever is elected President, he singled out Trump as “a very lively man, talented without doubt”. Putin went on to say that Trump is the “absolute leader in the presidential race.”

Now I’m sure that Trump supporters will say, “Hey, Putin respects strength and Trump represents strength.”

I’m sure Putin respects Trump a lot more than he does President Obama. I’m sure Putin respects Taylor Swift a lot more than Obama. That doesn’t mean we should elect her President.

It could also be that Putin sees Trump as a man cut from the same cloth. In which case, it takes a dictator to know a dictator.

UPDATE: Trump was delighted to receive Putin’s endorsement stating, “It is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond.” 

Of course, Putin is highly respected within his own country. Just like the Ayatollah is highly respected in Iran. Those who don’t respect Putin (or for that matter the Ayatollah) find themselves a) in jail or b) below ground. 

There’s only other American who covets praise from our enemies as much as Donald Trump. His name is Barack Obama.