During a recent press briefing, national security advisor Jake Sullivan responded to a comment made by JD Vance, who suggested that Donald Trump should get credit for the release of American hostages by Russia. Sullivan’s reply was succinct: “I don’t follow.”
The Biden administration orchestrated the release of 24 individuals, which included notable Americans such as Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal journalist, and Paul Whelan, a former US Marine. The agreement also involved other countries like Belarus, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Norway.
Following the news of the releases, a spokesperson for Trump expressed optimism, saying, “It’s great news! We want these Americans back home, and it’s absurd they were imprisoned at all.” He went on to speculate that the release might be a sign that global leaders are anticipating Trump’s return to power, suggesting it reflects positively on the former president’s influence.
Sullivan appeared visibly emotional during the announcement of the detainees’ release at Thursday’s press conference.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Among those freed were three American citizens and one green card holder, who received a warm welcome upon their return in a ceremony with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
In exchange, Russia secured the release of various individuals, including Vadim Krasikov, a Russian hitman imprisoned in Germany, and Roman Seleznev, a hacker known for cyber crimes.
On his social media platform, Trump criticized Biden’s negotiation skills, labeling the situation “an embarrassment” and claiming he would have managed to secure the hostages’ release without any concessions.
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
Additionally, during a recent presidential debate, Trump took the opportunity to chastise Biden about the upcoming release of hostages, claiming, “He should have had him out a long time ago,” suggesting that payments were likely involved in the negotiations.