President Joe Biden celebrated the end of the “horrible ordeal” for Americans “unjustly imprisoned” in Russia, announcing a complicated prisoner swap and then shouting “Happy Birthday” to the teenage daughter of a released prisoner.
Biden made a surprise appearance in the State Dining Room at the White House, hours after the historic deal that saw the release of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
They had all been held in Russia since 2018, Whelan said, “for no legitimate reason — none,” Biden said. “And now their brutal ordeal is over and they are free.”
The president appeared with relatives of released Americans as he announced the complicated swap that freed 24 prisoners and involved seven countries.
Biden, who has not been seen in public since Tuesday morning, praised the “diplomatic achievement” and friendship between multiple nations. In an awkward moment, he led the room in a round of “Happy Birthday” to Miriam Butorin, the 13-year-old daughter of Alsu Kurmasheva, a freed Russian-American journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Biden paused his speech to bring Butorin closer, then encouraged the crowd to sing along. They did, calling it a Biden family tradition.
President Joe Biden sings Happy Birthday to Miriam Butorin, 13, after delivering a speech about a prisoner swap with Russia from the State Dining Room of the White House
And while the cameras were rolling, he gave her some dating advice for life and the future.
“Remember, no serious men until you’re 30,” he told her.
In response to a question from DailyMail.com, the president also defended the release of convicted hitman Vladimir Krasikov, who was serving a prison sentence in Germany for the murder of a Georgian citizen.
Asked how he felt about the decision, Biden replied, “I brought innocent people home.”
Biden had family members standing behind him at the rally, where he read from his prepared speech and took a series of questions from the press. The White House says he is “reconsidering” his role now that he is not seeking re-election.
“They never gave up hope. I can’t imagine what they went through,” he said.
President Joe Biden, right, extends his hand to Elizabeth Whelan, center, as he delivers a speech about a prisoner swap with Russia. He surrounded himself with family members of prisoners released in the swap as he announced the deal
Miriam Butorin, 13, wipes away a tear during the event at the White House
Biden gave some dating advice for life after the song
A plane carrying American prisoners has landed in Turkey after a major exchange between Russia and the US
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is among those released from Russian prison
He quoted his late son Beau when trying to describe what they were struggling with. “Family is the beginning, the middle and the end,” he said.
The president said it “speaks a lot” about American values that the U.S. also pushed for the release of Russian dissidents held in their country. He said they would not be free to “live safely abroad” and said they could continue to work to promote democracy in Russia “if they so choose.”
Biden focused his remarks on the released Americans, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, a journalist and Russian-British dissident who was also part of the swap.
He called the quartet by their first names.
“This deal wouldn’t have been possible without our allies,” Biden said.
The White House went all out on Thursday, hosting a public event and briefing the press on how the historic swap came about.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris plan to go to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to welcome the returning detainees.
Biden too Posted an image of Gershkovich, Whelan and others flying back to the US
“This was classic Joe Biden: calling on American allies to rescue American citizens and Russian freedom fighters,” said White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.