President Joe Biden celebrated the end of the “brutal ordeal” for Americans “unjustly imprisoned” inside Russia by announcing a complex prisoner swap and then leading a rendition of “happy birthday” to the teenage daughter of a freed prisoner.
Biden made a surprise appearance inside the White House State Dining Room hours after the historic deal that freed former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
They have all been detained in Russia since 2018, “for no legitimate reason, none,” Biden said. “And now their brutal ordeal is over and they are free.”
The president appeared with relatives of freed Americans as he announced the complex exchange that freed 24 prisoners and involved seven countries.
Biden, who has not been seen in public since early Tuesday, praised the “diplomatic feat” and the friendship involving several nations. In an awkward moment, he led the round of “Happy Birthday” for Miriam Butorin, the 13-year-old daughter of Alsu Kurmasheva, a freed Russian-American journalist from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Biden interrupted his remarks to pull Butorin closer and then encouraged people to join in singing, which attendees did, calling it a Biden family tradition.
President Joe Biden sings happy birthday to 13-year-old Miriam Butorin after delivering a speech on a prisoner swap with Russia from the White House State Dining Room
And offered her some advice about life and dating in the future while the cameras rolled.
“Remember, no serious guys 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 time in Germany for the midday murder of a Georgian citizen.
Asked how he weighed the decision, Biden replied: “I brought innocent people home.”
Biden positioned family members behind him for the event, where he read prepared remarks and answered a series of questions from reporters, as the White House says he is “recalibrating” his role now that he is not seeking reelection.
“They never gave up hope. I can’t imagine what they’ve been through,” she said.
President Joe Biden, right, shakes hands with Elizabeth Whelan, center, as he delivers remarks on a prisoner swap with Russia. He was surrounded by family members of the prisoners released in the exchange as he announced the deal.
Miriam Butorin, 13, wipes away a tear at the White House event
Biden offered some dating advice for life after the song
A plane carrying American prisoners has landed in Türkiye following a major exchange between Russia and the United States.
Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich is among those released from prison in Russia
She mentioned her own deceased son, Beau, as she tried to describe what they were facing. “Family is the beginning, the middle and the end,” she said.
The president said it “says a lot” about American values that the United States has also pushed for the release of Russian dissidents detained in the United States. He said they would not be free to “live safely abroad” and could continue working to promote democracy in Russia “if they choose to do so.”
Biden focused much of his remarks on the freed Americans, who also included Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian-British journalist and dissident who also took part in the exchange.
He referred to the quartet by their first names.
“This deal would not have been possible without our allies,” Biden said.
