Trump calls release unprecedented, says no swap was required
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on October 21 that Stephen Hubbard was on his way home, writing, “Welcome home Stephen, it’s great to have you back,” according to The Guardian’s live politics coverage.
The statement said the release resulted from a direct request Trump made to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a telephone call the previous week. “Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family,” the statement read.
Trump said the United States, out of respect for him, was not required to give anything in return — an arrangement he described as an unprecedented situation for Russia.
The post also said there was no “swap” necessary for the release. It argued that Hubbard’s return should have taken place long ago through the Biden Administration, which Trump said had gotten nowhere in its negotiations with the Kremlin.