Freed Americans Back on US Soil After Landmark Prisoner Swap

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris greet Evan Gershkovich , a prisoner freed by Russia, as he arrives on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Their release, negotiated as part of a 24 person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris welcome Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, and Alsu Kurmasheva, all prisoners freed by Russia, as they arrive at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Aug. 1, 2024. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Biden Speaks After Freed Prisoners’ Arrival

Aug 02

President Joe Biden, speaking to reporters on the tarmac shortly after the arrival of the three freed Americans, said the “toughest call” on the prisoner swap deal was not made by the United States, but by its allies.

“I asked them to do some things that were against their immediate self interest … particularly Germany and Slovenia,” he said shortly after midnight, going into Aug. 2.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris walk on the tarmac after welcoming home freed prisoners Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva after they arrived at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Aug. 1, 2024. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

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