10-14-2018, 09:50 PM
President Trump is doing a great job in terms of negotiating hostage returns, I gotta say.
He's facilitated the return of 17 Americans thus far.
![[Image: 1052064716.jpg.0.jpg]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NZ9ELVnv_u_wcPV9Ft0rKe3GFo4=/0x0:3000x2304/920x613/filters:focal(1196x439:1676x919):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61760709/1052064716.jpg.0.jpg)
^ The latest is evangelical Christian Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was detained in Turkey for more than two years.
The pastor was arrested along with thousands of others after a failed 2016 coup attempt, and was accused of aiding the movement against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Brunson had lived in Turkey for 23 years and was imprisoned a month before the 2016 election. His wife Norine Lyn was briefly imprisoned but released before Election Day.
The pastor’s detainment had created a huge rift between the two NATO allies. Trump had placed sanctions on two high-ranking Turkish officials and tariffs on Ankara’s steel and aluminum sectors because the country wouldn’t release Brunson.
Trump said the timing of the release of Brunson had nothing to do with the current situation involving missing Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the resultant tension between the U.S., Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
Shortly after his return yesterday, Brunson said a prayer and then said, “I really want to thank the administration,” at a televised meeting with Trump at the White House. “You really fought for us, unusually so. From the time you took office, I know that you’ve been engaged.”
Ref: https://www.vox.com/2018/10/13/17973410/...urkey-vote
He's facilitated the return of 17 Americans thus far.
^ The latest is evangelical Christian Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was detained in Turkey for more than two years.
The pastor was arrested along with thousands of others after a failed 2016 coup attempt, and was accused of aiding the movement against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Brunson had lived in Turkey for 23 years and was imprisoned a month before the 2016 election. His wife Norine Lyn was briefly imprisoned but released before Election Day.
The pastor’s detainment had created a huge rift between the two NATO allies. Trump had placed sanctions on two high-ranking Turkish officials and tariffs on Ankara’s steel and aluminum sectors because the country wouldn’t release Brunson.
Trump said the timing of the release of Brunson had nothing to do with the current situation involving missing Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the resultant tension between the U.S., Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
Shortly after his return yesterday, Brunson said a prayer and then said, “I really want to thank the administration,” at a televised meeting with Trump at the White House. “You really fought for us, unusually so. From the time you took office, I know that you’ve been engaged.”
Ref: https://www.vox.com/2018/10/13/17973410/...urkey-vote