Outrage as Trump claims in video he will release WSJ reporter imprisoned in Russia if he becomes president

WASHINGTON DC: In a campaign video that was released on Tuesday, June 4, former President Donald Trump reiterated his outrageous assertion that, should he be reelected, Russian President Vladimir Putin would release imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

“Evan Gershkovich, the reporter for The Wall Street Journal who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the election,” Trump said in the clip posted to social media.

Kremlin spokesperson states that Russian government made no contacts with Donald Trump

In the Trump futher added, "But definitely before I assume office, he will be home. He will be safe. Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, will do that for me. And I don’t believe he’ll do it for anyone else. And we will be paying nothing. Biden likes to pay massive numbers. We will be paying nothing. Thank you very much."

Trump previously asserted the same thing in a post on Truth Social that was almost exactly word for word in late May, according to Media ITE.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, stated at the time that there have been "no contacts with Donald Trump" by the Russian government.

“Regarding [US-Russian] contacts on the matter of incarcerated and convicted individuals, we can say that these contacts must be carried out in total secrecy,” Peskov said. “This is the only way they can be effective.”

Critics of Donald Trump have expressed outrage

Critics of Trump responded with astonishment and outrage to Trump's message, accusing him of encouraging Putin to continue detaining Gershkovich. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) responded to the video on social media, stating, “This is sick, even for Trump.”

Another user added, "I AM VERY OPENLY NEGOTIATING WITH OUR ENEMIES FOR MY PERSONAL BENEFIT AND WANT RECOGNITION FOR USING AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AS A POLITICAL HOSTAGE."

The third commentator wrote, "Please stop telling Russia not to release Evan Gershkovich."

"i mean if this is true then at this point trump is the one holding gershkovich hostage," one remarked.

A person said, "It should be a massive story that the GOP nominee keeps repeatedly referring to an apparent secret deal he’s made with Putin."

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