Trump questions prisoner swap with Russia: 'We never make good deals'

Former President Donald Trump on Thursday fumed over a hostage exchange agreement with Russia to secure the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, both of whom Russia convicted for espionage.

Whelan had been in Russian custody since 2018 while Gerskovich was arrested in 2023 and convicted this month.

"So when are they going to release the details of the prisoner swap with Russia?" Trump asked on Truth Social. "How many people do we get versus them? Are we also paying them cash? Are they giving us cash (Please withdraw that question, because I’m sure the answer is NO)?"

The multi-national prisoner swap involved a total of 24 prisoners. In total, the Russians released 16 individuals in exchange for eight imprisoned Russians across multiple countries, NPR reported.

"The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy. All told, we’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia—including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country," President Joe Biden said in a statement.

"Are we releasing murderers, killers, or thugs? Just curious because we never make good deals, at anything, but especially hostage swaps," Trump went on. At least one, is in fact a convicted murderer. Vadim Krasikov was convicted in Germany for murdering a Georgian national, ostensibly on the orders of the Russian government, according to CBS News.

"Our 'negotiators' are always an embarrassment to us! I got back many hostages, and gave the opposing Country NOTHING – and never any cash. To do so is bad precedent for the future," he went on. "That’s the way it should be, or this situation will get worse and worse," he went on. "They are extorting the United States of America. They’re calling the trade 'complex' – That’s so nobody can figure out how bad it is!"

It is unclear if their were any terms beyond the exchange of hostages.

The Biden administration in December 2022 negotiated an exchange with Russia to secure the return of WNBA star Brittney Griner for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout. That deal drew scrutiny for leaving behind Whelan, who had been in Russian custody for many years up to that point.