President Joe Biden told reporters the first words he said to three American prisoners who landed on U.S. soil Thursday night after being freed from Russia: “Welcome home.”
Biden, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, greeted Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva on the tarmac after they landed at Joint Base Andrews, capping a successful exchange that released 16 prisoners in all.
Biden later told reporters that he put together the deal “a while ago” but waited to “make sure everything was in place.”
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The president and vice president joined the families of some of the former captives, including Gershkovich’s parents and Kurmasheva’s daughters.
The plane carrying the prisoners touched down several minutes after 11:30 p.m. ET. Whelan was the first prisoner to step onto American soil. Whelan saluted, then embraced Biden and Harris, who were waiting on the tarmac. He could be seen having a deep conversation with the president before giving him a pat on the arm and moving on to greet Harris.
Speaking to reporters, Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, said he passed the time during his almost six years of captivity by singing the national anthem, the New York Times reported. When asked for a message to others who remain locked up abroad, he said, “Just hang in there. We’re coming for you.” Later, when returning to converse with Biden, the president appeared to take a pin off his lapel and gift it to Whelan.
Freed prisoner Paul Whelan greets a family member after arriving at Joint Base Andrews on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesGershkovich quickly followed the former U.S. Marine and could be seen briefly chatting with the president and vice president after deplaning. Microphones could not immediately pick up the conversation between the Wall Street Journal reporter and the commander-in-chief. After conversing with Biden and Harris, Gershkovich lifted his mother, Ella Milman, as the pair reunited.
When asked how it felt to be home, Gershkovich simply responded, “Not bad.” When someone asked how he’s feeling, he replied, “I’m all right.”
Kurmasheva, the Tatar-language Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty editor, disembarked and was quickly met with an hug from her daughters.
Speaking to the press after the dramatic landing, Biden thanked several U.S. allies, including Germany and Slovenia, for assisting in the deal. When asked if he had a message for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden simply responded: “Stop.”
Biden also told one reporter that his decision to suspend his reelection campaign had nothing to do with the prisoner exchange.
“I’d still get it done even if I was seeking a second term. You’re stuck with me as president for a while, kid. There’s no way out. You’ve got me for another 100 days or so—it didn’t have anything to do with that.”
Harris heaped praise on Biden, calling it an “extraordinary day.”
“This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy and strengthening alliance,” the vice president said.
The president had earlier posted footage of the first phone call families of the three former prisoners made with their loved ones as they were on their way home. Secretary of State Antony Blinken posted a similar call of his conversation with the trio.
“Every parent, child, spouse, and loved one who joined me in the Oval Office today has been praying for this day for a long time,” he wrote.
Echoing his initial message, Biden posted a note to the trio early Friday on X. “Tonight is about reuniting families. Welcome home, Paul, Evan, and Alsu. You’re right where you belong.”
