President Biden and Vice President Harris greeted three United States citizens who were released from Russia during the prisoner swap when they landed at Andrews’ Air Force Base late Thursday night.
The three Americans — journalist Evan Gershkovich, former marine Paul Whelan, and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva — landed at the base just outside of Washington, D.C., around 11:45 p.m.
Biden and Harris waited at the bottom of the stairs when the plane landed. Whelan exited first and Biden greeted him, saying, “How are you doing, sir?” They all spoke and hugged. Gershkovich then exited the plane and hugged Harris and Biden and spoke with them. The two also greeted their family members.
Kurmasheva then exited and spoke with Biden and shook hands with Harris. Biden wished a happy birthday to her daughter, who ran up to her saying, “I can’t believe you’re here.”
Whelan, after greeting his family, went back to Biden and shook his hand again. Also on the tarmac for the arrival were multiple Wall Street Journal employees waiting for Gershkovich, their colleague.
The three former detainees arrived from Turkey, where the prisoner swap took place.
Biden was with the families of Gershkovich, Whelan, Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was also released in the deal, earlier at the White House. The president and the families spoke with those released from the Oval Office while they were on their way to Turkey, and the families flanked Biden while he gave remarks announcing the swap.
The president has stressed the importance of allies, especially Slovenia, Norway and Turkey, for their help with the release.
Harris also gave remarks earlier on Thursday before leaving Texas and returning to Washington.
“Today, in spite of all of their suffering, it gives me great comfort to know that their horrible ordeal is now over,” she said, adding that the administration “will never stop fighting” for the release of other Americans held abroad.
