North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) said he thinks that Russia agreed to the prisoner swap announced Thursday because they think former President Trump is “going to win” the upcoming election.
Burgum joined Fox News Channel’s Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer on Thursday where he said it was a “day of gratitude and celebration” that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan were able to return home.
“The reason why Russia wanted to do the deal now is that they think that President Trump’s gonna win and they don’t want to deal with him,” Burgum said in comments highlighted by Mediaite.
The governor went on to criticize President Biden’s “track record on these hostage negotiations” and the escalating international tensions as both the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war continue.
“This is not making the world less safe. This is, I think, a, you know, great, fabulous for the families, but it’s a political move and why Russia would go now, get maximum concessions from a weak President Biden,” Burgum said.
On Thursday, Biden announced that Gershkovich, Whelan and several other prisoners from different countries were released as part of the largest swap between the U.S. and Russia since the Cold War.
Russia received eight prisoners who were being held and released 16 prisoners who were being wrongfully detained or were severely sentenced for minor offenses.
Negotiations occurred over several months but the final details of the agreement came together just hours before Biden suspended his reelection campaign. Some White House officials pointed to that to show Biden is willing to put the presidency over his own political ambitions.
Former President Trump later on Thursday demanded more details be released about the prisoner swap and touted his own record of bringing Americans home.
