JD Vance says Russia released US prisoners fearing Donald Trump's second presidential term

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio), Donald Trump's running mate, suggested on Thursday, August 1, that fear of a potential second Trump administration motivated Russia to agree to the historic prisoner swap with the US.

Vance called the US-Russia prisoner exchange “great news” in an interview with CNN.

Sen JD Vance says Donald Trump's return is anticipated by 'bad guys all over the world'

JD Vance said it was ridiculous that the Americans were in prison and that he certainly wanted them to return home.

“We certainly want these Americans to come back home. It was ridiculous that they were in prison to begin with,” Vance said.

“But we have to ask ourselves: Why are they coming home? And I think it’s because bad guys all over the world recognize Donald Trump’s about to be back in office, so they’re cleaning house,” he said as The Hill reported. 

“That’s a good thing, and I think it’s a testament to Donald Trump’s strength,” Vance added.

The prisoner swap, which involved seven countries, was the largest prisoner swap between the US and Russia since the end of the Cold War.

More than two dozen individuals were part of US-Russia prisoner swap

President Joe Biden’s national security advisor Jake Sullivan was asked about JD Vance’s remarks during a White House briefing on Thursday. “I don’t follow,” he said, before moving to the next question.

More than two dozen prisoners were part of the swap, according to the Turkish presidential office, which helped facilitate the exchange.

The prisoners were released from the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and Belarus.

Among those freed by Russia were Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan, Biden confirmed in a statement.

Others freed include Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual US-Russian citizen and journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, a US resident and prominent Russian opposition politician. Allies of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny are reportedly included as well.

Donald Trump questions details of US-Russia prisoner swap

The prisoners freed by the West included Vadim Krasikov, a convicted Russian assassin, according to Turkey.

Trump called for more details of the prisoner exchange. “So when are they going to release the details of the prisoner swap with Russia?” he asked on Truth Social Thursday afternoon.

He questioned about how many people did “we get,” whether the US paid money or is receiving money, and whether the released people were “murderers, killers, or thugs,” adding, “Just curious because we never make good deals, at anything.”

A reporter asked Biden on Thursday about Trump previously saying he would have gotten hostages out without giving anything in exchange.

“Why didn’t he do it when he was president?” Biden replied according to The Hill.

Internet slams Sen JD Vance for crediting Donald Trump for US-Russia prisoner exchange

Netizens mostly slammed the Republican running mate JD Vance for giving credence to Donald Trump for the Russia-detained American prisoners' homecoming.

"Trump was president for two years of Whelan’s imprisonment and did jack shit. F--k off, JD," on wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Another commented, "Trump was letting them rot," and another added, "That is the stupidest statement. Since Quayle misspelled potato. Sometimes you should not issue public statements."

"The only reason Biden made the swap was because Trump said he’d make sure to bring them home when he’s elected. Otherwise, those prisoners would still be sitting in a Russian prison," read another tweet.

Someone else suggested, "That GOP got to be idiot." Another wrote, "What happened to Trump's claim that because of his special relationship with Putin only he could negotiate a release?"

"But Trump just said it was a horrible deal," another commented.

"Typical! JD Vance is trying to give credit to Trump for the prisoner release but actually the way I see it the Prisoner's coming home are a testament to President Biden's strength as it was Biden's Administration that played a huge role in freeing the Prisoner's Not Trump's," wrote another.

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