In an early morning post on Thursday, former President Donald Trump took to social media to suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin would release imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich as a personal favor to him.
Trump’s statement, posted on Truth Social at 1:30 am, claimed that Gershkovich, who has been detained by Russia since March 2023 on espionage charges, would be freed shortly after the election, but definitely before Trump assumed office again. Trump asserted that Putin would release Gershkovich for him and emphasized that no payment would be involved.
“Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office,” declared Trump on Truth Social at 1:30am. “He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING!”
Gershkovich’s arrest marked the first instance of an American journalist being detained in Russia on espionage charges since the Soviet Union’s collapse. He faces a potential 20-year prison sentence.
In response to Trump’s remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the Russian government had not engaged in any communications with Trump regarding the matter. Peskov emphasized the necessity of keeping such contacts confidential for them to be effective.
Trump’s interactions with Putin and the Russian government had previously come under scrutiny during his tenure in the White House, leading to a special counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller.
In a 2023 interview, Trump also expressed confidence in his ability to resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia within 24 hours of returning to the White House, citing his willingness to engage with both Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky.
