They are legit trying to claim that Trump was the Reason for the Russian Prisoner Swap
Absolutely Zero Evidence’ John Kirby Hits Back at JD Vance’s Claim That Swapped Prisoners with Russia are Thanks to Trump
White House National Security Council Spokesperson
John Kirby hit back at claims that
Donald Trump deserves credit for a prisoner swap with Russia this week, telling Republican vice presidential candidate
JD Vance and others there is “absolutely zero evidence” of these theories.
Kirby joined CNN’s
Kate Bolduan on Friday to discuss this week’s surprise prisoner exchange with Russia that saw the release of
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich,
Paul Whelan, and others. Russia had charged Gershkovich, Whelan, and others with espionage and other crimes that U.S. authorities have outright dismissed as fraudulent.
At the end of their interview, Bolduan played for Kirby clips of Trump and Vance discussing the prisoner swap. Trump boasted in a
Clay and Buck Show interview that he’d overseen the release of dozens of hostages during his administration and never had to pay money. He also questioned the deal by President
Joe Biden, accusing him of letting “some very bad people” out.
One of the top people Russia reportedly wanted in the exchange was
Vadim Krasikov,
arrested in 2019 in Germany for the murder of a former Chechen fighter. Germany convicted Krasikov of working on behalf of the Russian state.
In Vance’s comments to CNN, he
claimed that the prisoner swap only happened because world leaders like Russian President
Vladimir Putin believe Trump is going to win in November and they don’t want to deal with them.
Kirby was shocked by Vance’s comment, stammering for a moment while he responded.
“Well, on the last comment, I don’t know what to say. There’s absolutely zero evidence at all that this deal was brought about because of some potential fear who might be the next president,” Kirby told Bolduan.
The White House official gave credit to Biden and insisted the deal happened because of the president’s “alliances and partnerships and trust he could build on.”
Kirby also offered a response to Trump’s comment, noting Biden has also overseen the return of dozens of hostages, including some taken during Trump’s administration. One of those is
Whelan, now released under the new deal.
“As for the comments by the previous president,
Trevor Reed was
taken in the previous administration’s time in office. Mr. Biden got him home,” he said. “Paul Whelan was taken in the previous administration’s time in office. President Biden got Paul home and I would stress that zero dollars were exchanged in this deal that brought these people home last night. It was all about people to people exchanges.”