Sanders taken in by Russians’ Greta joke United States
Russian pranksters claim that they phoned US Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, pretending to be climate activist Greta Thunberg, and offered Thunberg’s support to his campaign.
Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov, who have fooled many high-profile victims around the world, posted a recording of the phone call on YouTube. The call took place in early December, but the duo decided to release it more than two months later because of Sanders’ success in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, Kuznetsov said.
A representative for Sanders’ campaign did not comment on the authenticity of the call.
Federal law enforcement officials were alerted in November that several Democrats had received telephone calls from someone believed to be from outside the US, who was claiming to represent Thunberg and was trying to set up calls or meetings with members of Congress, a US official said. Some of the congressional offices reported the incidents to the FBI and the Capitol Police.
In the recording, an unnamed female pretends to be Greta, and Stolyarov plays her father, Svante. They offer to lend support to the campaign of a man who identifies himself as Sanders, and the man welcomes it.
Sanders suggests that ‘‘Greta’’ make a statement in his support, and that they hold an event together when she next comes to the US. ‘‘I would be really appreciative,’’ he says.
‘‘Greta’’ then proposes to record a rap song with singer Billie Eilish and rapper Kanye West in support of Sanders.
Sanders says that would be ‘‘terrific’’ and tries to end the conversation, but the duo say ‘‘Greta’’ is about to visit Russia and needs advice on how to behave there. The Vermont senator tells her to be careful to not be used for PR purposes.
After that, ‘‘Greta’’ tells Sanders that he was recruited by the KGB in 1988, when he visited Russia, and has since been a ‘‘sleeper agent’’.
‘‘Now it’s time to wake up and fulfil your mission, become president of the United States, build communism in the United States and work for Russia!’’ she says – after which Sanders appears to hang up.
Kuznetsov said the call was one of many in the comedy duo’s new project, in which they call high-ranking politicians and celebrities, pretending to be Thunberg. Stolyarov said Thunberg’s name ‘‘opens doors to everyone’’.