Topline
Former President Donald Trump called for more details of the prisoner exchange President Joe Biden orchestrated that freed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. marine Paul Whelan and involved 26 total people Thursday, questioning who was exchanged and saying “our ‘negotiators’ are always an embarrassment to us.”
While former President Donald Trump criticized the priosner trade and sought more details about who … [+]
Key Facts
“So when are they going to release the details of the prisoner swap with Russia?” Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday afternoon, along with other questions of how many people were “we get,” whether the U.S. paid money or is receiving money and whether the released people were “murderers, killers, or thugs,” adding, “Just curious because we never make good deals, at anything.”
One person who was at the top of the list of prisoners Moscow wanted back and was returned to Russia, Vadim Krasikov, was convicted of murder and imprisoned in Germany, CNN reported.
Others who were returned to Russia had been charged with espionage, fraud and conspiracy, according to CNN.
Trump criticized the Biden administration in the post, saying he “got back many hostages” while in office and gave the opposing countries nothing in exchange and to do anything else is setting “bad precedent for the future” and letting countries extort the U.S.
The swap—which was reportedly completed in Turkey—included 24 adults and two children and included prisoners held in the U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus, The Washington Post reported.
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Crucial Quote
“They’re calling the trade ‘complex’ – That’s so nobody can figure out how bad it is!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Tangent
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, also weighed in on the swap Thursday—and implied credit should be given to Trump. In an interview with CNN, he said it’s “great news” but said he thinks the swap was made because “bad guys all over the world recognize Donald Trump is about to be back in office so they’re cleaning house … I think it’s a testament to Donald Trump’s strength.”
Contra
Biden called the swap “a feat of diplomacy” in a statement, adding: “Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty.”
Key Background
The trade was announced Thursday following days of speculation that Washington and Moscow were nearing a swap. In a press conference about the release of the detainees, Biden said there were three American citizens and one American green card holder who were returning to the U.S.: Whelan and Gershkovich were both given 16 year jail sentences for spying, though both men denied the charges and the U.S. said they were wrongly detained. Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was also released, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Russia for treason and other charges, and freed Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was given six-and-a-half years in prison last month. U.S. officials have previously accused Russia of using U.S. citizens as bargaining chips and arresting them whenever possible in order to be able to orchestrate prisoner swaps and free Russian citizens.
Further Reading
Israel and Hamas. Previously, she has covered a range of topics from Donald Trump’s legal battles to Taylor Swift’s path to becoming a billionaire. She joined Forbes in April 2022 and is based in Colorado. Prior to joining Forbes, Bohannon covered local news and spent time at the Fort Collins Coloradoan and the Arizona Republic. She graduated with a degree in journalism from Creighton University and has an MA in investigative journalism from Arizona State. Follow Bohannon for continued coverage of pop culture, politics and updates on the war in Gaza.
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