Former President Donald Trump praised Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday following a significant prisoner exchange involving the U.S., Russia, and other Western nations.
At a campaign rally in Atlanta, Trump congratulated Putin for what he called a “great deal” and mentioned the historic prisoner swap, which is the largest such exchange between the U.S. and Russia since the Cold War. This deal resulted in 16 people, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, being released from Russian custody.
Trump: By the way I would like to congratulate Vladimir Putin for having made yet another great deal. Did you see the deal we made? pic.twitter.com/B2xRMZQjoj
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 3, 2024
Trump described the swap as a big win for President Joe Biden’s administration but did not acknowledge the American citizens who were freed. He criticized the deal, suggesting it set a bad precedent and implied that his administration would have secured a better outcome without paying anything.
Trump’s comments came amid Republican criticism of the deal under Biden. Trump claimed the deal was a victory for Putin and suggested that Gershkovich would not have been detained if he were still president. Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, also praised the prisoner exchange, attributing it to Trump’s influence and strength.
In response, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated that there is no evidence to support the claim that the deal was influenced by fears about who would be the next president. Kirby emphasized that the deal was achieved through President Biden’s alliances and trust.