In a recent jab directed towards former President Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton invoked their infamous 2016 presidential debate exchange, resurfacing the term "puppet" to mock Trump's deference to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Clinton's remark came in response to Trump quoting Putin's criticism of the prosecutions against the former president during a rally in Durham, New Hampshire on Saturday.

During the rally, Trump cited Putin's statement, referring to the "rottenness" of the American political system, which he claimed showed the hypocrisy of America teaching others about democracy. Seemingly undeterred by Putin's criticism, Trump added, "They're all laughing at us."

Jennifer Mercieca, a democracy and rhetoric researcher at Texas A&M University, explained, "Donald Trump sees American democracy as a sham and he wants to convince his followers to see it that way too." Mercieca further highlighted the shared disdain for democracy and the rule of law between Putin and Trump.

Reacting to Trump's rally remarks, a spokesperson for Trump, Steven Cheung, praised his speech, saying he "knocked it out of the park." However, Clinton took the opportunity to remind people of their infamous exchange from the final 2016 presidential debate.

During the debate, Trump pointed at Clinton while asserting, "Putin, from everything I see, has no respect for this person." Clinton shot back, "Well, that's because he'd rather have a puppet as president of the United States." This statement clearly struck a nerve with Trump, as he responded defensively, repeatedly denying the puppet allegation.

Clinton also accused Trump of refusing to acknowledge Russian cyberattacks on the United States, encouraging espionage, and being willing to align with Putin's interests, including breaking up NATO. She argued that these actions were evidence of a foreign government's interference in American elections.

On Sunday night, Clinton shared an article from The Washington Post on X, simply writing "puppet," once again questioning Trump's relationship with Putin.

The derogatory term "puppet" has resurfaced, bringing back memories of the heated 2016 presidential campaign. While Clinton's remark adds another layer to their ongoing political feud, it reinforces the lingering perception of Trump's relationship with Putin and raises questions about his stance on American democracy. As political tensions persist, it remains to be seen how Trump and his supporters will respond to Clinton's latest taunt.