Vladimir Putin Just Killed a Key Donald Trump Talking Point

Social media commentators have noted that the release of reporter Evan Gershkovich from Russian captivity came despite Donald Trump having previously said President Vladimir Putin would free him “for me, but not for anyone else.”

On Thursday, Gershkovich was released as part of a 24-person prisoner swap involving prisoners held by Russia, Belarus, the United States and a number of other Western countries. In total, 16 people were freed by Moscow, a mixture of foreign nationals and domestic political prisoners, while eight were released by Western nations, including convicted spies and Vadim Krasikov, who was found guilty of murdering an exiled dissident in Berlin.

On May 23, in a post on his Truth Social website, Trump suggested Putin would release Gershkovich after the 2024 presidential election as a personal favor to him. The Republican presidential nominee wrote: “Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from the Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office.

“He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and we WILL BE PAYING NOTHING!”

In posts on X, formerly Twitter, a number of political commentators discussed Gershkovich’s release, which they noted took place despite what Trump had claimed on Truth Social.

Nicholas Grossman, a professor of international relations at the University of Illinois, wrote: “Happy to hear US political prisoners in Russia, including WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, will be coming home.

“Curious to find out what the US traded. Did Russia’s calculus change or did America meet their price? And can’t help but note Trump claimed that only he could do this.”

Writer David Frum, who previously worked as a speechwriter for President George W. Bush, shared a post about the prisoner exchange, adding: “Looks as if Putin has abruptly lost confidence that Trump will win in November. Locking in his hostage-taking payoff early.”

Earlier this month, Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted on espionage charges. Both The Wall Street Journal, his employer, and the U.S. State Department insisted the charges were fabricated.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, President Joe Biden was asked about Trump’s repeated claim “that he could have gotten the hostages out without giving anything in exchange.”

In response the president said, “Why didn’t he do it when he was president?”

Gershkovich wasn’t detained until March 2023, but Paul Whelan, another American included in the exchange, has been held in Russian custody since December 2018.

When contacted for comment, Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign spokesperson, directed Newsweek to a post the former president made on Truth Social in response to the prisoner deal.

Trump wrote: “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?

“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. 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!”

Gershkovich, Whelan, Russian American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza, who holds a green card, were greeted by Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris when they landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Thursday night.