Rep. Eric Swalwell Eric Michael SwalwellSwalwell calls for creation of presidential crimes commission to investigate Trump when he leaves office 'This already exists': Democrats seize on potential Trump executive order on preexisting conditions Swalwell: Barr has taken Michael Cohen's job as Trump's fixer MORE (D-Calif.) on Tuesday criticized President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE for congratulating Vladimir Putin on his reelection, saying the Russian president won a “sham election.”

“[Trump] identifies more closely with Putin than he does with our friends. It’s also like congratulating the Harlem Globetrotters. This was a sham election,” Swalwell said on CNN.

The congressman argued that Trump has been quicker to praise and congratulate autocratic leaders like Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Chinese President Xi Jinping than he has with leaders like German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“I think he needs to bring us closer to our allies and speak more firmly toward those who wish to harm America,” Swalwell said.

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Putin, on Sunday, coasted to victory in his bid for a fourth term. However, there were reportedly widespread allegations of ballot-box stuffing, forced voting and other irregularities in Russia during the election.

Trump said Tuesday that he called Putin to congratulate him on the victory and to talk about meeting sometime soon to discuss the "arms race."

The White House refused to say whether it believes Putin’s victory was the result of a free and fair election.

“We’re focused on our elections. We don’t get to dictate how other countries operate,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters.



“What we do know is that Putin has been elected in their country, and that's not something that we can dictate to them — how they operate," she added.