Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin may share more similarities than the leaders choose to admit.

Amid the plethora of astounding words coming out of Trump’s mouth on a daily basis, perhaps the most shocking of them all is Trump’s support and praise for Putin.

The slogan “Make America Great Again” has become familiar on social networks and media, thanks to fans of Trump and their heroic pursuit to elect him as the country’s commander in chief.

More recently, Putin stated to the press “I am Putin for them (Russians). They thank me for returning Crimea and making Russia great again.”

It is difficult to understand how a tiny block of land can make a country “great again,” but more importantly, Putin has, perhaps, singlehandedly ruined the economy for Crimea, seeing that tourists can no longer vacate to the Crimean peninsula, and trade with surrounding countries is impossible as well.

Perhaps this is what Putin is referring to.

When taken into observation, Trump and Putin are very similar, and the strategies they use to get into power, and stay in power, are almost identical.

For Putin’s birthday this October, a children’s choir heralded his praises in the center of the Red Square in Moscow. If you have missed the now viral video on social media, Trump has also assembled a cheer squad that promotes his candidacy, including the slang “Make America Great Again.”

Putin is also notorious for getting rid of journalists and politicians that oppose his views and choose to side against him.

Based on research from the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Glasnost Defense Foundation, fact-checking organization PolitiFact found that “at least 34 journalists have been murdered in Russia since 2000.”

Journalists have gone missing, but Putin’s rating has not changed a bit, and his supporters remain loyal.

This weekend, Trump stated “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.”

This further proves the point that Trump may be heading in the direction of a populist dictator, and if elected president, who knows what lengths he may go to in order to remain in power.

Concerning their relationship, both leaders have declared admiration for one another.

“He is a bright and talented person without any doubt,” said Putin concerning Trump’s candidacy, adding that he is also the “absolute leader of the presidential race.”

To these praises, Trump replied “it is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond,” according to a BBC article published Dec. 18, 2015,.

To what “beyond” Trump may be referring to is unclear, but the fact remains that two of perhaps the most radical leaders are getting along quite well, and if Trump is given even more power, it may well be that the alliance will not fare well for the rest of the world, including America and Russia.

For the year 2016, a Russian magazine has published a Putin calendar featuring a fresh photo of Putin doing a masculine, intellectual or outdoor activity (such as fishing or topless horse-riding) every day. Each day also includes a genuine quote from the leader himself, exemplifying some patriotic moral, such as “I personally think Russian women are the most talented and most beautiful,” or Putin’s “fond connection” with dogs, according to an article by CNN.

The strategies that Putin is using to gain popularity rather than political respect is identical to what Trump is attempting to do. Instead of addressing issues that are relevant in today’s society, Trump chooses to focus on issues that will give him popularity from a specific part of the population.

It is then our duty, both as the representatives of our generation and educated citizens, to see past the hateful rhetoric Trump is using, and make sure that the leader we elect is tolerant, respectful and politically consistent.