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The President introduced Brunson and praised his resilience during his two years in prison.
"I just want to congratulate you because you galvanized this country," said Trump. "There is so much interest and it's your faith, it's your strength, what you did, past."
Trump also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for facilitating Brunson's return.
"I want to thank President Erdogan for making this possible," Trump said. "It was not easy, it was not easy for him."
After introducing his family, Brunson thanked Trump for working to negotiate his release "from the moment you took office."
"We especially want to thank the administration, she really fought for us, in an unusual way," Brunson told the president. "From the day you took office, I know you were engaged."
Brunson also thanked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Vice President Mike Pence, and Detective Thom Thillis of North Carolina, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and James Lankford of New York. Oklahoma.
"We are very grateful to so many members of Congress who have joined us, who have prayed for us and fought for us, and we want to thank you," said Brunson.
Brunson then prayed out loud for the president, demanding that Trump be endowed with "supernatural wisdom" and "courage to defend the truth", and that he be protected "from the slander of enemies and those who would undermine it. "
Brunson's wife, Norine, then prayed aloud for the president, asking him to receive "the spirit of wisdom and intelligence, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord ".
"Thanks a lot, can I ask you a question?" Trump asked him after the blessing. "Who did you vote for?"
The group laughed and the pastor assured Trump that he had sent a ballot by mail from Turkey and voting for him.
"I knew the answer, I would never do that.This could be too difficult," said Trump, before congratulating the family and expressing hope for improved relations with the Turkey thanks to the release of Brunson.
"We had a very tough relationship over the last few months because of what was going on," Trump said. "This is a great step forward to the kind of relationship with Turkey, which can be a great relationship, which I know we are going to have."
The president tweeted Saturday that Brunson would join him at the oval office after his return, adding that there was "no deal with Turkey" for his release.
A pastor has faced decades of prison
Brunson has been detained in Turkey since 2016 and accused of contributing to a coup attempt against Erdogan. US authorities have stated that Brunson was wrongly detained.
The case of the evangelical pastor has put a strain on relations between the two NATO allies and raised the possibility of significant sanctions by the United States and new threats.
"It will be wonderful to see him and meet him," tweeted Trump on Saturday. "It's a great Christian who has had such a difficult experience." I'd like to thank the president @RT_Erdogan for his help! "
"There was NO transaction with Turkey for the release and return of Pastor Andrew Brunson," Trump said in a follow-up tweet, adding, "I do not make a bargain for hostages. United States, which will lead to good, perhaps good, relations between the United States and Turkey!
Brunson has been living in Turkey for more than 23 years with his wife and three children, according to the American Center for Law and Justice, an organization headed by Trump's lawyer, Jay Sekulow, who has pleaded for his release. .
"He is, I think, in good shape," Trump told reporters on Friday. "We are very honored to have him back with us, he has suffered a lot but we are very grateful to a lot of people, a lot of people."
Trump has tweeted about Brunson several times this year, and the White House has repeatedly called for his release during a conversation with Turkish officials.
In April, Trump declared that Brunson was "persecuted in Turkey for no reason" and said, "They call him a spy, but I'm more of a spy than him." I hope that he will be allowed to go home to his beautiful family where he is! "
Months later, Trump tweeted that the United States would impose "heavy sanctions" on Turkey for his detention of Brunson, "a great Christian family man and a wonderful human being.He is suffering tremendously.This man of innocent faith should be released immediately! "
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