The message that former President Donald Trump delivered to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a campaign rally on Saturday sparked criticism on social media in light of the prisoner swap that took place this week between the United States and Russia.
As part of a prisoner swap with Moscow, President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that his administration had secured the release of three Americans and one resident of the United States, Vladimir Kara-Murza.
Prisoner Swap
In exchange for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and a number of Russian dissidents held in Russian prisons, the United States and some of its allies agreed to exchange eight Russian detainees.
A few German nationals were likewise delivered as a part of the arrangement.
Russian Reciprocation
According to the Associated Press, Russia reciprocated by welcoming back a number of Russian citizens who had been found guilty of crimes such as espionage, fraud, and involvement in the shooting death of a Georgian commander.
“I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family,” According to Biden in a statement released on Thursday.
“70 Such Americans”
Biden continued: “My Administration has now brought home over 70 such Americans, many of whom were in captivity since before I took office.”
Trump traveled to the Georgia State University Convocation Center in Atlanta for a campaign rally on Saturday. During the rally, Trump, the GOP’s 2024 official candidate, talked about the detainee trade as he complimented the Russian leader.
Congratulating Putin
Trump stated: “By the way I would like to congratulate Vladimir Putin for having made yet another great deal. Did you see the deal we made?”
Since Trump’s comments, a few users have taken to X, previously Twitter, to reprimand the former president for his message to Putin.
“Horrifying Moment”
“In a horrifying moment, Donald Trump congratulates Vladimir Putin,” wrote the online community supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election on the X account Kamala’s Wins.
The post continues: “Trump has long sided with Russia and Putin, but congratulating him at a campaign rally is as anti-American and repulsive as it gets. Retweet so all Americans see this.”
Biden Resignation
Since Biden resigned from the race on July 21 and endorsed his vice president, Trump is now expected to face Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Previously, Trump was expected to compete against Biden in this year’s election.
In the meantime, Trump’s rumored connections to Putin were scrutinized while he was president.
Trump Claims
Trump has previously praised Putin for being “smart” and boasted about his good relations with the Russian leader.
He even claimed, without providing any specifics, that if he is reelected, he could end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine that Putin started in February 2022 within “24 hours.”
“Traitor”
“I like a president who does not congratulate Vladimir Putin” was written on the X account “Republicans against Trump.”
“Paul Whelan was held hostage for 5 years and he’s congratulating Putin. Trump is a traitor.” was one of the comments that Michigan GOP Watch user wrote about Trump.
Potentially Dangerous Citizens
Joshua Reed Eakle, another user of X, wrote, “Not Americans. Not Biden. Not the Americans being held as political prisoners. Vladimir Putin. What a repugnant, anti-American human being.”
In the past, Trump has criticized Biden’s handling of prisoner swaps, accusing him of trading potentially dangerous Russian citizens for hostages held by U.S. citizens.
Trump’s Swaps
The former president has suggested that Biden could secure releases without making any concessions, claiming that Biden’s deals are “one-sided.”
But Trump also did prisoner swaps while he was president. He gave up three Taliban leaders in November 2019 in exchange for two Americans, Kevin King and Timothy Weeks.
Administration Numbers
The next year, the U.S. returned an Iranian researcher only days before Iran delivered Marine Michael White from custody, however authorities rejected that this was a detainee trade.
58 hostages, according to Trump, were freed while he was president. In the meantime, the online archive of the Trump White House stated that Trump had released 56 hostages “from more than 24 countries.”
The White House claims that Biden has secured the release of over 70 Americans in various hostage releases worldwide.
