Russia used social media on Thursday to mock President Obama after he expelled diplomats and imposed a new round of sanctions on the nation.
Alleged meddling by Russian intelligence agencies into aspects of the 2016 U.S. president election prompted Mr. Obama to oust 35 Russian suspected spies and hit nine entities and individuals with sanctions. Russia's U.K. embassy responded by taunting the commander in chief's "lame duck" status.
"President Obama expels [Russian] 35 diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody, incl [sic] [American] people, will be glad to see the last of this hapless Adm," the embassy tweeted.
An image of a duck with the word "LAME" superimposed over it accompanied the message.
"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," Mr. Obama said in a statement Thursday night.
The Obama administration also shut down two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland that were allegedly used for Russian "intelligence-related purposes."
"All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions," the president added.