'They Are Extorting The United States': Trump SLAMS Biden-Harris Admin For Setting 'Bad Precedent' For Exchanging 'Murderers, Killers' With Russia

On Thursday, the Biden administration, with the help of the German, Slovenian, and Norwegian governments, successfully negotiated a hostage deal with Russia to ensure that three American citizens and one permanent resident were able to return home after being illegitimately imprisoned in the Russian Federation. In reaction to the deal, which saw multiple Russian assassins and intelligence assets be given to the Putin-led government, 45th President Donald Trump slammed the deal as a "bad precedent" that would create even worse hostage situations.

The prisoner swap saw the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Marine veteran Paul Whelan, and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to the United States while 12 political dissidents, one of whom likely would have been Putin opposition leader Alexie Navalny if he had not died in prison earlier this year, were released to Germany.

"After enduring unimaginable suffering and uncertainty, the Americans detained in Russia are safe, free, and have begun their journeys back into the arms of their families," President Biden said about the deal.

In return, the Russians will receive eight of its citizens, including Vadim Konoshchenok, Vladislav Klyushin, and Roman Seleznyov. According to CBS News, one of the most notable Russian prisoners sent back home was Vadim Krasikov, who successfully carried out an order in Germany in 2021 by the Russian government to murder a Georgian asylee who fought Russia during the Second Chechnya War. 

The hostage swap, one of the largest since the Cold War, had been under negotiation for a year and a half and finally concluded on a tarmac in Ankara, Turkey. In response to the hostage exchange, President Trump, who built a reputation as a strong negotiator during his first term, explained that the Russians were extorting the United States and that the deal was an incentive for Russia or other bad actors to take Americans.

"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 posted to Truth Social.

"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. To do so is bad precedent for the future," he explained. "That’s the way it should be, or this situation will get worse and worse. They are extorting the United States of America. They’re calling the trade 'complex' – That’s so nobody can figure out how bad it is!"
 

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