Former president Donald Trump attacks President Joe Biden’s handling of the recent Russia-West prisoner exchange, questioning the terms of the deal and reigniting debates over his own administration’s record

Former President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of President Joe Biden following a historic prisoner exchange that resulted in the release of Americans Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan from Russian custody. Trump, who is currently the Republican presidential nominee, has used the detainees’ release to attack Biden’s administration, particularly as Biden ramps up his reelection campaign.

In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump speculated—without evidence—about the details of the exchange, questioning whether cash or sanctions relief was involved. His comments came despite White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s confirmation that no money or sanction relief was part of the deal. Trump’s post echoed previous, unsubstantiated claims that the U.S. had given Iran billions of dollars in cash in similar situations.

“Are we also paying them cash? Are they giving us cash (Please withdraw that question, because I’m sure the answer is NO)?” Trump wrote, before criticizing the Biden administration’s track record on negotiations, claiming that American negotiators “are always an embarrassment to us.”

During an interview on the “Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show,” Trump reiterated these claims, despite the lack of evidence, and accused the administration of making poor deals that he would have handled differently. When asked about Trump’s accusations, Biden responded sharply, questioning why Trump had not secured the hostages’ release during his presidency. “Why didn’t he do it when he was president?” Biden asked, directly addressing Trump’s critiques.

Trump’s comments have also reignited past grievances from the families of the detained Americans. David Whelan, Paul Whelan’s brother, responded to Trump’s rhetoric by pointing out that Trump had largely ignored his brother’s case during his presidency. Despite Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s condemnation of the espionage charges against Paul Whelan, Trump did not publicly mention Whelan’s name while in office. David Whelan revealed that his family was “discouraged from speaking out about Paul’s case” during Trump’s administration and emphasized that it was media attention that finally drew the government’s focus to his brother’s wrongful detention.

Paul Whelan himself had appealed to Trump during his trial, asking for assistance in protecting Americans abroad. However, Trump only mentioned Whelan by name in a December 2022 post on Truth Social, condemning Biden for arranging a prisoner exchange that freed U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner but left Whelan in Russian custody. Trump claimed he had rejected a one-for-one swap of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Whelan, a deal he insisted he would not have made under any circumstances.

Trump’s handling of Whelan’s case has drawn sharp criticism from Whelan’s family. David Whelan publicly criticized Trump on social media, stating that Trump had mentioned his brother more in the last 24 hours than he did during his presidency. He further suggested that Trump’s recent interest in the case was politically motivated, rather than a genuine concern for his brother’s welfare.

Evan Gershkovich’s case has similarly been caught in the crossfire of Trump’s political attacks. Trump did not comment on Gershkovich’s situation until more than a year after the journalist’s arrest in March 2023. In an interview with *Time* magazine in April 2024, Trump assured that Gershkovich would be released but did not mention him by name. Later, in a Truth Social post, Trump predicted that Gershkovich would be released shortly after the election if Trump were to win, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin would do so only for him.

During a June presidential debate, Trump once again used the issue to attack Biden, claiming that Putin was “laughing” at Biden and demanding billions of dollars for Gershkovich’s release. Despite his repeated criticisms, Trump has avoided directly naming Gershkovich in his public statements.

Trump’s comments have sparked a renewed debate over his handling of Americans detained abroad during his presidency, with critics pointing to his silence on certain cases as indicative of his administration’s priorities.

Analysis:

Political:

Trump’s attack on Biden over the prisoner swap is a calculated move to undermine Biden’s foreign policy credentials, especially during an election year. By casting doubt on the deal’s terms and suggesting that he would have handled the situation differently, Trump is attempting to position himself as a stronger negotiator and a better protector of American interests abroad. However, Trump’s own record of dealing with wrongful detentions is mixed, as highlighted by the criticism of the Whelan family. The political implications of this exchange are significant, as it allows Trump to continue framing Biden as weak on international issues, a theme that has resonated with his base in the past.

Social:

Socially, Trump’s comments have touched a nerve, especially among the families of detained Americans who feel that their loved ones were neglected during his presidency. The Whelan family’s public rebuke of Trump’s rhetoric highlights the personal toll these situations take on families and the importance of consistent and compassionate support from the government. Trump’s use of these high-stakes situations as political ammunition has sparked outrage among those who view the issue of wrongful detentions as too serious to be used for partisan attacks.

Racial:

While Trump’s criticism of the prisoner swap does not directly address racial issues, the broader context of wrongful detentions and international diplomacy often intersects with questions of race and privilege. The perception that certain cases receive more attention or are prioritized based on the detainee’s nationality, race, or public profile is a sensitive issue that could influence public opinion. The case of Brittney Griner, for example, brought racial and gender dynamics to the forefront, and Trump’s past comments on her case have been scrutinized through that lens.

Gender:

Gender dynamics are also at play in these cases. Brittney Griner’s release and Trump’s subsequent criticism of the deal raised questions about how gender may influence both public and governmental responses to such situations. Female detainees often face different challenges than their male counterparts, including gender-based violence and discrimination. Trump’s approach to these cases, which tends to focus on strength and deal-making, contrasts with the more empathetic tone often adopted by the Biden administration, reflecting broader gendered expectations in leadership and diplomacy.

Economic:

Economically, Trump’s speculation about cash payments and sanctions relief taps into broader concerns about the costs of diplomacy and the use of economic leverage in international negotiations. The economic implications of prisoner swaps are often a point of contention, as they can involve complex trade-offs that go beyond financial transactions. Trump’s narrative suggests that the U.S. is being taken advantage of in these deals, playing into his broader campaign themes of economic nationalism and strong-arm negotiation tactics. This framing could resonate with voters who are concerned about perceived weaknesses in America’s economic and diplomatic strategies.