Clinton Blasts Trump For Appearing On Russian TV, Praising Putin

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton blasted her rival Donald Trump for appearing on a Russian state-run television network and praising Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Clinton, campaigning in New York on September 9, said the Republican candidate's appearance on RT America on September 8, one day after he praised Putin for being a better leader than U.S. President Barack Obama, demonstrates that he is not fit to fill the highest office in the nation.

"Every day that goes by, this just becomes more and more of a reality television show," Clinton said. "It's not a serious presidential campaign, and it is beyond one's imagination to have a candidate for president praising a Russian autocrat like Vladimir Putin."

Critics say the RT network, which carries programs in both Russian and English, is a propaganda arm of Putin's government.

Trump told the network he did not think Russia's government was behind the hack of Democratic party e-mails this year, and he doubted Moscow is trying to interfere in the U.S. election, though cyber experts have traced the e-mail hack to Russia.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters