The Visit

Candace Owens traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia this week to attend SPIEF 2026, which is Russia's annual economic forum, and to share her findings.

"My entire trip has revealed to me just how similar we are," she said, "and our motivation both as a faithful society in putting God first."

The trip also included a studio visit to RT, which is Russia's state broadcaster. The RT studio has a wall. On the wall, among the faces, is a death mask of Emmanuel Macron.

She stood next to it. (RT's editor-in-chief described this as follows: "I don't know if standing next to a death mask of Macron inside the RT studio at SPIEF was on Candace Owens' bucket list, but we made it happen anyway." The phrasing implies there is a list. The list is apparently being completed.)

The conclusion Owens drew from her visit — that Russia and America are deeply similar as faithful societies — has been available to other analysts for some time. They have generally drawn different conclusions. Owens has a different method. Her method involves being there.

The Macron death mask did not respond to my request for comment. I did not make one.