Former President Donald Trump took to social media to brag about his efforts to bring American hostages home while attacking President Joe Biden‘s efforts to bring Americans who were illegally detained in Iran back to the United States.
Five American hostages in Iran, as well as two relatives of the hostages, have left Doha, Qatar, for the U.S. after the Biden administration granted clemency to five Iranians and allowed Tehran access to $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue that had been previously frozen.
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“This absolutely ridiculous 6 Billion Dollar Hostage Deal with Iran has set a terrible PRECEDENT for the future. Buckel up, you are going to see some terrible things start to happen,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The 3 years ago highly respected USA has become a laughingstock all over the WORLD. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. VOTE TRUMP!!!”
The former president then contrasted Biden’s handling of the hostages to his administration’s efforts in a separate post.
“I brought 58 HOSTAGES home from many different countries, including North Korea, and I never paid anything. They all understood they MUST LET THESE PEOPLE COME HOME!” Trump continued. “Toward the end, it got so that countries didn’t even start the conversation asking for money, because they knew they would not get it. Once you pay, you always pay, & MANY MORE HOSTAGES WILL BE TAKEN. Our grossly incompetent “leader,” Crooked Joe Biden, gave 6 BILLION DOLLARS for 5 people. Iran gave ZERO for 5. He’s Dumb as a ROCK!”
The hostages include Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi, Morad Tahbaz, and two other unnamed Americans who want to remain anonymous. Biden has spoken with the families of seven citizens who are returning home, according to a White House pool report on Monday. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in New York on Monday that he had also spoken with the released hostages.
“It’s very good to be able to say that our fellow citizens are free,” he also said during a Monday press conference.
Other Republican presidential candidates have slammed the deal for giving Iran access to engage in harmful actions.
“While I welcome the release of American hostages, the American people should know that @POTUS Biden has authorized the largest ransom payment in American history to the Mullahs in Tehran,” former Vice President Mike Pence posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, last month when details of the deal were revealed.
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“Iran will now use this money to produce drones for Russia and fund terrorism against us and Israel. China and Russia, who are also holding Americans hostages, now know the price has just gone up,” he added.
“Biden is shamefully caving to Iran’s blackmail and extortion. Rewarding Iran for taking Americans hostage incentivizes more hostage-taking,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Trump’s closest 2024 primary competitor. “The $6 billion ransom payment will help Iran build nuclear weapons, support terrorism, oppress the Iranian people, and assist Russia.”
