Politicians react to historic prisoner swap that brought NJ native Evan Gershkovich home

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- New Jersey native Evan Gershkovich is back home on U.S. soil after a historic prisoner swap that was brokered between Russia, the United States and several other countries.

Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who graduated from Princeton High School, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist, arrived Thursday just after 11:30 p.m. ET.

As they stepped off the plane, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greeted the three at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington.

The Americans were part of an extraordinary 24-prisoner exchange involving Russia, the United States and several other countries, the largest of its kind since the Cold War and one in which President Biden was directly involved, the White House said earlier Thursday.

The swap allowed wrongfully detained Americans Gershkovich and Whelan to return home from Russia.

Addressing the press after greeting the Americans, Biden gave special recognition to Germany and Slovenia.

"The toughest call on this one was for other countries because I asked them to do things that were against their self-interest, especially Germany and Slovenia," Biden said.

Earlier in the day, Biden shared a photo that appeared to show Gershkovich on a plane, writing on X, "After enduring unimaginable suffering and uncertainty, the Americans detained in Russia are safe, free, and have begun their journeys back into the arms of their families."

He also shared another photo that showed Biden with some of the families as they spoke to their loved ones for the first time since they regained freedom.

"These families never lost hope. And today, they'll each be reunited with the missing piece of their soul," Biden said.

ALSO SEE: Who is Vadim Krasikov, a Russian released in the mass prisoner swap?

As the news broke Thursday, several politicians expressed their gratitude for the deal.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he was "thrilled" that Gershkovich has been freed.

"Thank you to @POTUS and our allies involved in this complex, multilateral negotiation for your work to bring Evan and other wrongfully detained Americans home," Murphy posted on X.

RELATED: Biden celebrates freeing of Americans wrongfully detained in Russia: 'Their agony is over'

"I am grateful, relieved, and thrilled that Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza are finally coming home, and making their families whole," Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro posted on X.

"After 16 grueling months, I am thankful that Evan is finally coming home," said Congressman Brendan F. Boyle, (D) Philadelphia. "Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan's unjust imprisonment as hostages is yet another sobering reminder of how evil the Putin regime really is."

Gershkovich's parents are among Boyle's constituents.

"Today is truly a wonderful day for my constituents Mikhail and Ella Gershkovich. I thank and congratulate the Biden Administration," Boyle also posted on X.