Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) suggested Russia’s willingness to participate in the prisoner swap with the United States was influenced by their fear about a potential second Trump administration.
“We certainly want these Americans to come back home. It was ridiculous that they were in prison to begin with,” Vance said in an interview with CNN.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan are among the prisoners being released from Russian custody.
“We have to ask ourselves: Why are they coming home? And 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,” Vance said.
“That’s a good thing, and I think it’s a testament to Donald Trump’s strength.”
This swap marked the first such exchange since December 2022, when basketball player Brittney Griner was released in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
According to the Turkish presidential office, more than two dozen prisoners were exchanged, including people from the U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and Belarus.
“This deal would not have been made possible without our allies. They stood with us,” President Joe Biden said during a White House briefing.
“For anyone who questions whether allies matter, they do. They matter. Today is a powerful example why it’s vital to have friends in this world. Our alliances make our people safer,” Biden said.
Among those freed were also Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen and journalist, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, a U.S. resident and prominent Russian opposition politician.
During the press conference, a reporter asked Biden about Trump’s previous claims that he could have freed these hostages without making any concessions.
“Why didn’t he do it when he was president?” Biden replied.
Trump condemned the exchange, describing it as “extortion” on the country and warning that it establishes a “bad precedent for the future.”
He also urged the administration to disclose the details of the exchange.
“So when are they going to release the details of the prisoner swap with Russia How many people do we get versus them? Are we also paying them cash? Are they giving us cash (Please withdraw that question, because I’m sure the answer is NO)? Are we releasing murderers, killers, or thugs?,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
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“Just curious because we never make good deals, at anything, but especially hostage swaps. Our “negotiators” are always an embarrassment to us! I got back many hostages, and gave the opposing Country NOTHING – and never any cash,” he wrote.
“They’re calling the trade ‘complex’ – That’s so nobody can figure out how bad it is!” he added.
