Andrew Yang Andrew YangBiden's latest small business outreach is just ... awful Doctor who allegedly assaulted Evelyn Yang arrested on federal charges The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden weighs in on police shootings | Who's moderating the debates | Trump trails in post-convention polls MORE joked on Wednesday that if he's elected president in 2020, his first words to Russian President Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Former intelligence agency director Robert Cardillo speaks out against 'erratic' Trump Kremlin: Putin calls for reset between US and Russia on cyber relations before elections MORE would offer condolences.

"Sorry I beat your guy," Yang said during the fifth Democratic debate when asked what he would say in his first call with Putin.

WATCH: Andrew Yang says his first statement to President Putin if elected to office would be, "sorry I beat your guy." #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/YPvzfrIiiH — MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 21, 2019

The remark was a reference to President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE, who has repeatedly heaped praise on Putin and whose 2016 presidential victory was at the center of a years-long investigation into whether Russian officials sought to interfere in the U.S. political process.

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Yang said that Russia's interference in American democracy would also be a key topic of discussion in a phone call with Putin.

"I would say the days of meddling in our elections are over," Yang, a former tech executive, said.

National security officials have already warned that Moscow is taking steps to meddle in the 2020 presidential race.