The White House’s national security advisor Jake Sullivan was asked about JD Vance’s suggestion that Donald Trump deserves credit for American hostages being released by Russia. He offered a three-word response: “I don’t follow.”
The exchange, negotiated by the Biden administration, involved a 24-person release in total between the US, Russia, Belarus, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Norway. It led to the freeing of Evan Gershkovich, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, as well as Paul Whelan, former US marine, Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian-British political activist and journalist.
In an interview with CNN following news of the releases, Trump’s running mate said, “I think it’s great news, at least what little we know, we certainly want these Americans to come back home, it was ridiculous that they were in prison to begin with.”
He continued, “But we have to ask ourselves—why are they coming home? I think it’s because bad guys all over the world recognize Donald Trump’s about to be back in office, so they’re cleaning house. That’s a good thing and I think it’s a testament to Donald Trump‘s strength.”
Sullivan was asked about the comments during a press conference on Thursday, in which he appeared visibly emotional when announcing the release of American detainees.
Of the 24 people freed, three American citizens and one American green card holder were brought back to the U.S. yesterday, where President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed them.
In exchange, Russia secured the freedom of Vadim Krasikov, Russian hitman that was imprisoned in Germany, Roman Seleznev, a computer hacker, Vadim Konoshchenok, a suspected Russian intelligence operative, two sleeper agents in Slovenia, an academic accused of being a Russian spy, and a man detained in Poland on espionage charges.
Trump, who previously criticized Biden for failing to execute a prison swap, made several comments on his social media platform Truth Social about the historic multi-national exchange.
He questioned the Biden Administration’s negotiating tactics, calling them an “embarrassment,” and said he would have gotten the hostages back without giving Russia anything in return.
Today, our Administration is bringing home Americans detained in Russia – Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza. pic.twitter.com/EHVXeijw8k
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 2, 2024
Trump also criticized Biden over the impending release of American hostages in Russia during the June 27 presidential debate, and said, “He should have had him out a long time ago. But Putin is probably asking for billions and billions of dollars because this guy pays it every time,” according to ABC News.
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