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LetMyPeopleVote

(153,746 posts)
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 11:17 AM Aug 1

'Trump loses his hostage': Biden applauded for securing release of Gershkovich and Whelan

TFG kept promising the release of prisoners by Russia if and only if he was re-elected. TFG was in effect promising that he had a deal with Putin for the release of these prisoners. Putin did this deal at a time where it will help Kamala Harris and not help TFG. President Biden was able to pull of this deal that involved a good number of countries. TFG could never pull off this type of deal



https://www.rawstory.com/trump-loses-his-hostage-biden-applauded-for-securing-release-of-gershkovich-and-whelan/

The Biden administration has secured the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan from Russian prisons as part of a prisoner swap, which wipes away one of Donald Trump's baffling campaign promises.

The men had been jailed on espionage charges they both deny, and the U.S. State Department has designated them as wrongly detained, and the Kremlin may also release Russian-British dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was convicted of treason for criticizing the Ukraine invasion, as part of the swap.

Trump had raised eyebrows by suggesting multiple times that he had a deal in place with Vladimir Putin to release the journalist from detention if he's re-elected, saying the Russian president "will do that for me, and I don't believe he'll do it for anyone else," but president Joe Biden beat him to the punch and got the pair released.

It's not clear what terms the U.S. agreed to in exchange for the release of Gershkovich and Whelan, but social media users agreed their release was a win for Biden.

"WHOA. Another huge accomplishment from the #BidenHarris administration," said A.J. Delgado, a former Trump campaign aide in 2016 who's become an outspoken critic.......

"Gershkovich release is great news - and interesting that Putin did it now eviscerating Trump’s vile claim that he would get Gershkovich freed at once if elected as a trophy from the Kremlin," saidThe New Yorker's Philip Gourevitch.

"Thank goodness Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and others are being released from Russia due to the work of the Biden-Harris Administration and our allies,"
said attorney Mujeeb Shah-Khan. "So, guessing Mr. Trump doesn’t have the leverage he thought he did."
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'Trump loses his hostage': Biden applauded for securing release of Gershkovich and Whelan (Original Post) LetMyPeopleVote Aug 1 OP
Thank you President Biden for pulling off this very complex deal LetMyPeopleVote Aug 1 #1
+1 dalton99a Aug 1 #5
Imagine the MAGA crazies Trump would place at State trying to negotiate Prairie Gates Aug 1 #2
It's kinda nice that Joe can get work done, not have Buttoneer Aug 1 #3
I'd looked forward to a second term with him not having to worry about re-election. BadgerMom Aug 1 #57
Just a great day for these families Johnny2X2X Aug 1 #4
You forgot to mention Alsu Kurmasheva, ruzzian-American woman journalist niyad Aug 1 #10
Was she part of this? Johnny2X2X Aug 1 #13
According to articles from overseas, yes. American media had not seen fit niyad Aug 1 #19
Excellent Johnny2X2X Aug 1 #20
This message was self-deleted by its author drray23 Aug 1 #48
Kudos to all involved. Disaffected Aug 1 #6
It has seemed to me for quite some time that putin is pissed at trump. BComplex Aug 1 #27
This message was self-deleted by its author BComplex Aug 1 #28
Two theories about not waiting for the election... thesquanderer Aug 1 #42
Yes, both plausible alright. nt Disaffected Aug 1 #55
President Biden negotiated this deal while he was busy with other matters LetMyPeopleVote Aug 1 #7
Just proves the doubters wrong newdeal2 Aug 1 #8
He pulls off miracles in the deals that he makes. wnylib Aug 1 #29
i always thought so too et tu Aug 1 #32
That's my president! Johnny2X2X Aug 1 #16
KInd of surprised Putin agreed to this. progressoid Aug 1 #9
Interesting snub to TRAITOR**. Maybe putler sees the writing on the wall! niyad Aug 1 #15
he def does. mopinko Aug 1 #24
And maybe the bots are getting exposed in our polling? GreenWave Aug 1 #37
NPR said putin probably knew trump could not mucifer Aug 1 #52
Putin's way of saying, "You're fired!" ??? -nt CrispyQ Aug 1 #53
GREAT NEWS! That is what I would describe as a Pre-emptive strike against the orange blowhard. ProudMNDemocrat Aug 1 #11
I am shocked that Putin would give Biden/Harris a "win" before the election. I am suspicious of what we gave up. surfered Aug 1 #12
Goddess forfend that we should be happy we got some of our people back, niyad Aug 1 #18
He knows who he'll be dealing with come January. nolabear Aug 1 #25
This was surely in the works for months but Putin certainly had the last say underpants Aug 1 #26
Reported that Britney Griner's release was a precipitant. nolabear Aug 1 #33
"TFG could never pull off this type of deal..." dchill Aug 1 #14
Exactly. TwilightZone Aug 1 #43
Statement by President Joe Biden on Securing the Release of Americans Detained in Russia LetMyPeopleVote Aug 1 #17
I shed a tear reading this. Just beautiful, and so proud of our President! Thank you. liberalla Aug 1 #36
and just like that, all of trumps headlines are samnsara Aug 1 #21
Putin's agreement signals to the felon that he won't win the election. ancianita Aug 1 #22
Kick in the ass for Trump orangecrush Aug 1 #23
You're no Richard Nixon or Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush, Donald. NBachers Aug 1 #50
So grateful these people get to go home to their families. Many do not in Russia. Or Ukraine. 58Sunliner Aug 1 #30
I love this response by President Biden LetMyPeopleVote Aug 1 #31
A huge victory for Biden malaise Aug 1 #49
All kidding aside, GOTTA hand it to President Biden. calimary Aug 1 #58
Never trust a douchebag. It could be that Putin is doing this to hide from what he has planned to help Trump. Doodley Aug 1 #34
Or maybe Putin has other plans for *rump . . . NBachers Aug 1 #51
This is such GREAT news! WOW! Thank you President Biden! liberalla Aug 1 #35
The next step jayschool2013 Aug 1 #38
Wow... Good for the Hostages and Pres Biden & VP Harris! Cha Aug 1 #39
It's a signal to TFG COL Mustard Aug 1 #40
Pooty knows. moondust Aug 1 #41
+33. Harker Aug 1 #44
Yes Putin knows LetMyPeopleVote Aug 4 #61
This is why Joe Biden is so great PennRalphie Aug 1 #45
Many people are saying this is because Putin fears ToxMarz Aug 1 #46
Wonderful news!!! wordstroken Aug 1 #47
President Biden is an extraordinary man. gademocrat7 Aug 1 #54
Looks like Vlad can read the polls for America's Biggest Loser Hassler Aug 1 #56
This statement from TFG makes me smile LetMyPeopleVote Aug 2 #59
Poor TFG hates seeing posts like this LetMyPeopleVote Aug 2 #60

LetMyPeopleVote

(153,746 posts)
1. Thank you President Biden for pulling off this very complex deal
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 11:18 AM
Aug 1

This was a very complex deal involving multiple countries. It took a world leader like President Biden to pull off this deal



https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/08/01/russia-us-prisoner-swap/

In the largest prisoner exchange since the height of the Cold War, officials of the United States, Russia, Germany and other countries met on an airfield tarmac in Ankara, Turkey, on Thursday and were swapping at least two dozen people, the Turkish presidency said — capping months of painstaking diplomacy involving negotiations at the highest levels of multiple governments.

Those to be released included American journalist Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal, who was accused of espionage without any known evidence, and Paul Whelan, a former Marine jailed for more than five years after an espionage conviction the United States called baseless, as well as several Russian dissidents who demanded freedom and democracy or criticized the war in Ukraine, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post Opinions contributor.

The prisoners were released from the jails of seven countries: the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus, the Turkish presidential office said, adding that they were brought to Turkey by seven planes, two from the United States and one each from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Russia.

BadgerMom

(2,939 posts)
57. I'd looked forward to a second term with him not having to worry about re-election.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 07:51 PM
Aug 1

I’m thrilled now with our terrific veep, but, yeah, I thought about Biden off-leash as it were in a second term and was eagerly anticipating it.

Johnny2X2X

(21,417 posts)
4. Just a great day for these families
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 11:19 AM
Aug 1

Vogel, Gershkovich, and Whelan are the American end of the deal. Germany got 13 of their people back too.

niyad

(119,182 posts)
10. You forgot to mention Alsu Kurmasheva, ruzzian-American woman journalist
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 11:55 AM
Aug 1

who never seemed to get mentioned whenever there was talk of jailed American journalists.

niyad

(119,182 posts)
19. According to articles from overseas, yes. American media had not seen fit
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 12:07 PM
Aug 1

to ever mention her incarceration, so not surprised they do not seem to be mentioning her now.

Response to niyad (Reply #10)

Disaffected

(4,983 posts)
6. Kudos to all involved.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 11:30 AM
Aug 1

I wonder if this means Putin has soured on Trump (not waiting until he is elected to do the deal)?

BComplex

(8,980 posts)
27. It has seemed to me for quite some time that putin is pissed at trump.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 12:41 PM
Aug 1

Don't know why, don't care! But it has been apparent to me for a month or so.

Response to Disaffected (Reply #6)

thesquanderer

(12,286 posts)
42. Two theories about not waiting for the election...
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 02:01 PM
Aug 1

1. Putin didn't trust Trump to have the skills necessary to successfully complete the multi-country deal without somehow screwing it up, and/or

2. the other countries indicated to Putin their own hesitancies about being able to do the deal with Trump in the mix, and insisted that the deal had to happen now, with Biden, or it would be unlikely to happen at all.

et tu

(1,861 posts)
32. i always thought so too
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 12:55 PM
Aug 1

but maybe joe can do what he wants to do while
kamala is free to campaign and still safeguard democracy
through the inauguration~

mopinko

(71,562 posts)
24. he def does.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 12:31 PM
Aug 1

i bet he’s pulling the plug on his efforts to sway the election, too. too many of his ppl r getting caught anyway.

ProudMNDemocrat

(18,854 posts)
11. GREAT NEWS! That is what I would describe as a Pre-emptive strike against the orange blowhard.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 11:55 AM
Aug 1

Well done, Mr. President!

surfered

(2,615 posts)
12. I am shocked that Putin would give Biden/Harris a "win" before the election. I am suspicious of what we gave up.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 11:57 AM
Aug 1

niyad

(119,182 posts)
18. Goddess forfend that we should be happy we got some of our people back,
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 12:02 PM
Aug 1

as did several other nations. In reading the articles, one can see some of who we exchanged.

nolabear

(43,072 posts)
25. He knows who he'll be dealing with come January.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 12:34 PM
Aug 1

If he’s smart he’ll start trying to court Kamala now, because tfg is dead and gone.

underpants

(186,184 posts)
26. This was surely in the works for months but Putin certainly had the last say
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 12:38 PM
Aug 1

Make sure all those ketchup bottles are popped right in front of you Orange Turd.

nolabear

(43,072 posts)
33. Reported that Britney Griner's release was a precipitant.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 12:57 PM
Aug 1

I’m sure we’ll know more later but you’re right. It’s been in the works for a long time.

dchill

(40,146 posts)
14. "TFG could never pull off this type of deal..."
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 11:57 AM
Aug 1

He wouldn't have to. All he needed to do is hint at a promise. Now that's no longer operative.

TwilightZone

(27,955 posts)
43. Exactly.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 02:08 PM
Aug 1

He likes to brag that he would do things that aren't even in his power to impress his followers. This time, it bit him in the ass.

I'm not sure why anyone ever takes anything he says at face value. There's always an agenda, and he's almost always lying.

LetMyPeopleVote

(153,746 posts)
17. Statement by President Joe Biden on Securing the Release of Americans Detained in Russia
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 12:01 PM
Aug 1


https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/08/01/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-securing-the-release-of-americans-detained-in-russia/

Today, three American citizens and one American green-card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza.

The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy. All told, we’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia—including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country. Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over.

I am grateful to our Allies who stood with us throughout tough, complex negotiations to achieve this outcome— including Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey. This is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world whom you can trust and depend upon. Our alliances make Americans safer.

And let me be clear: I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family. My Administration has now brought home over 70 such Americans, many of whom were in captivity since before I took office. Still, too many families are suffering and separated from their loved ones, and I have no higher priority as President than bringing those Americans home.

Today, we celebrate the return of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir and rejoice with their families. We remember all those still wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world. And reaffirm our pledge to their families: We see you. We are with you. And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong.

###


orangecrush

(21,240 posts)
23. Kick in the ass for Trump
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 12:30 PM
Aug 1

Who would have much preferred Vlad keeping these prisoners until right before the election, when he would announce a deal with Trump and release them after, like Reagan with the hostages in Iran.

Has Putin written Trump off?

calimary

(83,904 posts)
58. All kidding aside, GOTTA hand it to President Biden.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 09:20 PM
Aug 1

He knows he’s leaving next January, but he’s still using his remaining Oval Office time to get some truly meaningful things done now.

He is a GREAT man.

Doodley

(10,144 posts)
34. Never trust a douchebag. It could be that Putin is doing this to hide from what he has planned to help Trump.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 12:59 PM
Aug 1

jayschool2013

(2,455 posts)
38. The next step
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 01:36 PM
Aug 1

Let's make sure that the WSJ reporter and other journalists in the U.S. aren't targeted and criminalized by Kash Patel, Trump's likely attorney general, who has promised to do just that.

GOTV!

moondust

(20,371 posts)
41. Pooty knows.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 01:57 PM
Aug 1

I'm guessing he's paying attention and knows his little orange puppet ain't gonna get back on the throne.

PennRalphie

(257 posts)
45. This is why Joe Biden is so great
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 02:08 PM
Aug 1

His foreign policy experience is unmatched. Total congratulations to our President and VP for getting these people home.

This gives Kamala great momentum on the foreign policy front!

ToxMarz

(2,233 posts)
46. Many people are saying this is because Putin fears
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 02:14 PM
Aug 1

the next President Harris's rath and convinced of her inevitable election would rather not have to face off with her on this.

Really, if other people say this, many people are saying this!

gademocrat7

(11,104 posts)
54. President Biden is an extraordinary man.
Thu Aug 1, 2024, 03:07 PM
Aug 1

He and Vice President Harris quietly worked tirelessly to get the hostages out of Russia. He sang Happy Birthday to one of hostages children.

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