North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum suggested that fear of former President Donald J. Trump was the reason Russia agreed to a prisoner swap to free Americans held captive by the Putin regime.
The exchange that freed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan, among others, led the media to praise lame-duck President Joe Biden, a man who has little use for diplomacy when it comes to the Russians.
During an appearance Thursday on Fox News, Burgum told “America's Newsroom” hosts Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino that it was a “day of gratitude and celebration,” but the former GOP presidential candidate said the credit belongs to Trump
(Video credit: Fox News)
After thanking the hosts for keeping the names of the hostages alive in public, Burgum said, “The Biden administration is clear, the reason Russia wanted to do this deal now is because they think President Trump is going to win and do”. I don't want to deal with him.”
“Biden's track record in these hostage negotiations, I mean you go back to just September of last year, paying the Iranians $6 billion for five hostages, I mean it put a price on every American's head when did he do that,” Burgum. it continued. “It made it less safe for anyone to travel abroad when they do.”
“And then, of course, that's a positive point, but the trend line is that we're in a proxy war with Russia escalating, and of course what's going on with Iran and Israel, that's also escalating.” , the governor added. . “That's, I think you know a great, fabulous for families, but it's a political move, and why would Russia go now and get maximum concessions from a weak President Biden.”
Gershkovich had been in jail since last year when he was arrested and charged with espionage. Whelan was arrested by Russian security services on espionage charges in 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020.
He could have been released much sooner, but Biden was more concerned with securing the release of an anti-American, lesbian women's basketball player than the ex-Marine.
Trump had some questions about the deal.
“So when are they going to release the details of the prisoner swap with Russia? How many people do we have against them? Are we paying them in cash as well? Are they giving us cash (please withdraw this question, because I'm sure the answer is NO)? Are we freeing murderers or thugs? Just curious because we never make good deals, but mostly hostage exchanges,” the Republican candidate. he wrote in a Thursday post on Truth Social.
“Our 'negotiators' are always a shame for us! I recovered many hostages and gave NOTHING to the opposing country, and never cash. Doing so sets a bad precedent for the future. It has to be, or this situation will get worse and worse. They are extorting the United States of America. They call trade 'complex' – so no one can figure out how bad it is!” Trump said.
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