Donald Trump has not slowed down in criticizing the Joe Biden administration and the Democrats. At his last rally, he congratulated Russian President Vladimir on the “wonderful” prisoner exchange with the West. The Republican Party candidate in the November presidential election presented the Russian leader as the winner of the historic event that led to the release of several Americans. He did not mention any of the released Americans by name at the rally, emphasizes The Washington Post.
The Washington daily, as well as the Politico website, among others, quote the words Donald Trumpsaid during a campaign rally in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday. – I would like to congratulate To Vladimir Putin another great deal. Did you see the deal we made? Trump said to the crowd of supporters.
Traditionally, he criticized the current president in this context. USA – this time for the way he “handled the prisoner exchange.”
READ: The largest prisoner exchange “since the Cold War”. It is known who Poland released
The former president said the swap freed “some of the worst killers” in the world. “We got our people back, but we made some terrible deals,” Trump said, without elaborating. “It’s nice to say we got them back, but doesn’t that set a bad precedent?” he asked.
Vladimir Putin with freed prisoners at the Moscow airport KIRILL ZYKOV/PAP/EPA
Trump did not explain that the exchange included the release of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich and former US soldier Paul Whelan. By speaking of the “world's greatest killers”, the Republican candidate probably meant the release of Russian FSB spy Vadim Krasikov, who was serving in Germany life sentence after the killing of the Chechen-Georgian oppositionist Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin on the orders of the Kremlin authorities.
Prisoner exchange is a difficult decision and a difficult operationSzymon Kazimierczak/Facts about the World TVN24 BiS
The Washington Post, in its commentary on Trump's words, emphasizes that the Republican candidate did not mention any of the released Americans by name.
As Politico points out, Trump also suggested – without any evidence – that the prisoner deal includes payments to Russia.
Before Jake SullivanBiden's national security adviser, stressed that the US had not paid any ransom, and that sanctions against Russia had not been eased.
Donald Trump also boasted on Saturday that during his term he secured the release of “59 hostages” and “never paid anything.”
Politico, “The Washington Post”, PAP
Main image source: PAP/EPA