Nearly all of the U.S. presidential candidates have reacted to the prisoner swap with Iran. The following are excerpted remarks. Click the name of each candidate to learn more.
Democrats | Republicans |
Democrats
Hillary Clinton
Former Secretary of State under Obama and former Senator from New York
“I am greatly relieved by the safe return of American prisoners from Iran. Their families and our country have waited and prayed for this day to come.
“I also welcome the full implementation of the nuclear agreement, an important achievement of diplomacy backed by pressure. Implementation marks an important step forward in preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran has dismantled centrifuges, disabled a reactor, and shipped out almost all of its enriched uranium. These are important steps that make the United States, our allies, and the entire world safer. I congratulate President Obama and his team, and I’m proud of the role I played to get this process started.
“But we shouldn’t thank Iran for the prisoners or for following through on its obligations. These prisoners were held unjustly by a regime that continues to threaten the peace and security of the Middle East. Another American, Bob Levinson, still isn’t home with his family. The treatment of our Navy sailors earlier this week was offensive, including the release of a demeaning and provocative video. Iran is still violating UN Security Council resolutions with its ballistic missile program, which should be met with new sanctions designations and firm resolve.
“So we can’t take our eye off the ball. As President, my approach will be to distrust and verify. I will vigorously enforce the nuclear deal as part of a comprehensive strategy that confronts all of Iran’s negative actions in the region and stand side-by-side with our ally Israel and our Arab partners.”
Martin O’Malley
Former Governor of Maryland
“Great news on the release of Jason Rezaian and others. Memo to Republican candidates: diplomacy beats carpet bombing.”
—Jan. 16, 2016, in a statement
Bernie Sanders
Senator from Vermont
“This good news shows that diplomacy can work even in this volatile region of the world.”
—Jan. 16, 2016, in a statement
Jeb Bush
Former Governor of Florida
“I would say ... if you do not release them, that there's going to be military action, that that's an act of provocation, an act of war. What I would do in January is recognize that Iran is not an ally. That's how the Obama administration views this.”
“I’m happy that hostages—because that’s what they were—were released—in return for people that violated United States law.”
“It doesn’t seem like there’s much symmetry there.”
“[They were released] in return for people that violated Iran sanctions, Iranians that were in prison here for violating those sanctions."
“Every time we show weakness it is a victory for Iran.”
“Prayers answered as American hostages coming home. Await more details on swap. They never should have been held at all.” (in a Tweet)
Ben Carson
Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital
“I am very pleased that four American citizens, who were illegally imprisoned by Iran in flagrant violation of longstanding international human rights norms, have finally been released.”
“[T]he fact remains that President Obama's nuclear agreement with Iran is fatally flawed and gravely jeopardizes the national security interests of the American people, our ally Israel and other peaceful nations in the Middle East and around the world.”
—Jan. 16, 2016, in a statement
Chris Christie
Governor of New Jersey
“The concern I have, and we don't know yet, is that the president made a trade. Now, when this president makes trades this is a big problem. This is not a guy I would let negotiate buying a car for me let alone anything else. I mean he makes bad deals and he seems to become an expert at making bad deal with the Iranians. The fact is that we shouldn't have to trade anything to get our citizens back home.”
—Jan. 16, 2016, in a statement
Ted Cruz
Senator from Texas
“I want to start with words of thanksgiving. We have just gotten the news that Pastor Saeed and three other Americans are apparently coming home from Iran. And I simply say praise God.”
“We don't know the details of the deal that is bringing them home. And then it may well be that there are some very problematic aspects to this deal. But at least this morning, I am giving thanks that Pastor Saeed is coming home.”
“It is far later than it should have been, but we will be glad to welcome him home with open arms.”
—Jan. 16, 2016, to reporters
Carly Fiorina
Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard
*No reaction as of yet.
Mike Huckabee
Former Governor of Arkansas
“[T]hey should've been released before we ever sat down at the negotiating table.”
“They've been there more than a year too long. Actually they've been there several years too long.”
—Jan. 16, 2016, during a South Carolina tea party convention
John Kasich
Governor of Ohio
"In terms of the release, I'm glad these people are out. But, you know, they were there on trumped up charges....It's a bad situation. We're glad they're out, but we don't want to have Iranians just grabbing people and trying to get their own people out."
—Jan. 17, 2016, on CBS Face the Nation
—Jan. 17, 2016, on CBS Face the Nation
Rand Paul
Senator from Kentucky
“Our prayers have been answered today, as Pastor Abedini will return home to his wife and children in America. Pastor Abedini is an incredibly brave man for risking his life for his Christian beliefs and I am pleased that our government did not sit idly by while an American citizen was persecuted abroad due to religious intolerance.”
“The United States stands as a beacon of freedom and hope for those across the globe, and as such, we must continue to fight for the safe return of those wrongfully imprisoned abroad based on their religious beliefs.”
—Jan. 16, 2016, in a statement
Marco Rubio
Senator from Florida
“Thankful that prayers have been answered and Pastor Saeed, Amir Hekmati, Jason Rezaian and another American will finally come home.”
“Iran needs to also help locate Floridian Robert Levinson. This hostage-taking must stop.”
The Americans who were released “should have never, never been there in the first place.”
“None of them did anything wrong.”
“And we should not be involved in swaps. These things should never happen is my point.”
“The fact of the matter is that this tells us all that we need to know about the Iranian regime. That they take people hostage in order to gain concessions. And the fact that they can get away with it with this administration is one of the reasons.”
“I think this has created incentives for more governments to do this around the world.”
“When you do deals like the Bergdahl deal and other things you incentivize people to take American hostages and other things even if they did nothing wrong.”
—Jan. 16, 2016, to reporters
Rick Santorum
Former Senator from Pennsylvania
“First, we are returning criminals back to Iran in return for freeing innocent Americans. Under no rational analysis is that a fair deal.”
“Second, this exchange proves that Iran is no friend and continues to get the upper hand in negotiations with the Obama Administration. As I said in Thursday's debate, Barack Obama's deal with Iran must be shredded and I intend to do that on day one of my presidency.”
—Jan. 26, 2016, in a statement
Donald Trump
CEO of the Trump Organization
“I'm happy they're coming back. But I will tell you, it's a disgrace that they've been there for so long. It's a disgrace. Remember that. A total disgrace.”
“Somebody said they're getting seven people back. So essentially, they get a $150 billion plus seven and we get four.”
—Jan. 16, 2016, during a rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Photo credits: Jeb Bush [CC BY-SA 4.0]; Ben Carson by Michael Vadon [CC BY-SA 4.0]; Chris Christie by Michael Vadon [CC BY-SA 4.0]; Ted Cruz [public domain as US Govt work]; Carly Fiorina by Michael Vadon [CC BY-SA 2.0]; Mike Huckabee by Gage Skidmore [CC BY-SA 2.0]; John Kasich [public domain as US Govt work]; Rand Paul [public domain as US Govt work]; Marco Rubio by Gage Skidmore [CC BY-SA 2.0]; Donald Trump by Michael Vadon [CC BY-SA 4.0]; Hillary Clinton [public domain as US Govt work]; Martin O'Malley [CC BY 2.0]; Bernie Sanders [public domain as US Govt work]; Rick Santorum by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 3.0]
