A Triumphant Biden Welcomes 3 Freed Americans Home
The former Marine poked his head out of the jet and then lifted his hand in salute. The Wall Street Journal reporter greeted his waiting colleagues with a wide grin and open arms. The Russian American editor rushed into the arms of her sobbing daughter.
In the middle of the emotional scene that unfolded on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews late Thursday was President Biden. Hours earlier, Mr. Biden had triumphantly announced that his administration’s diplomatic efforts had secured the release of three American prisoners held by Russia. Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva deplaned and were greeted by cheers, applause and family members.
“It feels wonderful,” Mr. Biden told reporters. “I was absolutely convinced we would get it done. I meant what I said: Alliances make a difference.”
The enthusiastic greetings that played out over about half an hour in the dark of a steamy Maryland night offered a moment of unbridled joy in a world of foreign affairs that has more often thrown fire and chaos at the president. And for Mr. Biden, they provided a seeming vindication of the type of patient, multilateral diplomacy that he proudly practices but that has so far proved unable to halt wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
Jake Sullivan, Mr. Biden’s national security adviser, had held back tears as he told reporters earlier in the day that a multicountry agreement, which released 24 prisoners from the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Russia, had been a “vintage Joe Biden” act of statecraft.
As he took question after question from waiting reporters, Mr. Biden seemed intent on reminding everyone what exactly that meant.
He repeatedly focused on the importance of international alliances: “Everybody thinks I talk about the notion of relationships and foreign policy with other countries,” he said. “It matters if other leaders trust you, you trust them and you get things done.”
He praised the Slovenians and the Germans for participating in the deal: “I asked them to do some things that were against their immediate self-interest, and it was difficult for them to do.”
And he reiterated the importance of family: “My dad used to say, family is the beginning, the middle and the end. And it really is. It’s about who we are. It’s about who we are as a country.”
At one point, Mr. Biden took an American flag pin off his lapel and pinned it on Mr. Whelan. Mr. Whelan, 54, is a former U.S. Marine who told reporters on Thursday that he had sung the American national anthem every day in custody. He also knew the precise number of days he had been held captive: “Five years, seven months, five days.” His first moments back on American soil were spent hugging the president and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Mr. Gershkovich, 32, a Wall Street Journal reporter who had spent 16 months in a Russian prison, deplaned and hugged Ms. Harris and Mr. Biden. He swept his mother, Ella Milman, into a hug, lifting her off the ground. And then he strode casually over to a group of reporters.
“Evan, how does it feel to finally be home?” one of them called out.
“It’s not bad,” he replied.
Ms. Kurmasheva, 47, a Russian American editor for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty who was arrested last year, embraced Mr. Biden, resting her head briefly on his chest, before hugging her family members.
Mr. Biden, who has not been one to linger with reporters for much of his presidency, spent time fielding questions and relishing a moment of presidential triumph, just 11 days after he made the decision to drop out of the presidential race. With only months left in his term, Mr. Biden has a legacy to protect, and the emotional return of the freed prisoners was an undeniable win for a president who, aides say, feels strongly that he has more to do with the time in office he has left.
He also has a presumptive Democratic nominee in Ms. Harris to support.
Ms. Harris, who traveled to Joint Base Andrews in her own motorcade and arrived before the president, was alongside him as he spoke to the freed prisoners and welcomed them home. Her candidacy has supercharged enthusiasm among Democrats and raked in millions of dollars. But on Thursday night, only a few questions were directed at her. At every turn, she flipped the attention back to Mr. Biden.
“This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy,” Ms. Harris told reporters.
Mr. Biden had all but clinched the prisoner-swap deal less than two hours before he announced to the world that he would not be seeking a second term. When a reporter asked how important it was to secure the prisoner release knowing that he would not run for re-election, the president smiled.
“You’re stuck with me as president for a while, kid,” Mr. Biden said. “There’s no way out, OK? You’ve got me for at least another 100, 90 days or so.”
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