A huge update came on Thursday morning when WNBA star Brittney Griner was ultimately released from a brutal Russian penal colony after nearly 10 months in Russian captivity. The United States secured the release of Griner thanks to a prisoner swap that sent Griner back to America in return for infamous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was sent back to Russia. It was a huge move that freed Griner, but not everyone agreed with the huge decision, and that includes former United States president Donald Trump, who absolutely blasted the prisoner swap.
Donald Trump absolutely blasted Brittney Griner as well as Joe Biden’s decision to have her released, claiming that Griner “openly hates our Country” and that the trade was “a ‘stupid’ and unpatriotic embarrassment” for the United States. Trump went on to explain that the United States should have had Paul Whelan – a former Marine who was given a Bad Conduct Discharge from the United States Marines in 2008 and hasn’t lived in the country in years – released instead.
This is quite a controversial and hypocritical statement, considering that Trump did nothing to have Whelan released from Russian custody for two years, despite having a cordial relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin. As a result, the comments were absolutely blasted on Twitter.
Donald Trump, who ignored Paul Whelan for two years, says deal to return Brittney Griner to US was ‘stupid’ https://t.co/QYc2mblMjp
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) December 9, 2022
Reminder that despite being besties with Putin, Trump failed to bring Paul Whelan home for more than 2 years pic.twitter.com/dc6V3ocyiC
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 8, 2022
Truly disgusting but predictable that Trump thinks a Black woman, an American citizen, should have been left to rot in Russia because he – a man who truly hated what America is – thinks she ‘hates our Country’. https://t.co/fg2PUpz00l
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) December 8, 2022
Local man who favors suspending the Constitution says what https://t.co/UXPAHP8C6X
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) December 8, 2022
"He would have been let out for the asking." Why, I wonder then, didn't Trump ask? https://t.co/C0h4ulCoQG
— Bob Mann (@RTMannJr) December 8, 2022
Why couldn’t Trump swing a deal w Putin to release Paul Whelan?
Whelan was “detained” on Trump’s watch.
Trump had over 2years to cut a deal & FAILED big time! https://t.co/O69ULjQUPx
— Beep🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@fiercefreckled) December 8, 2022
Why "is" stupid "in" quotes? https://t.co/4uWUuSxOhx
— Jeff Pearlman (@jeffpearlman) December 8, 2022
While Whelan’s family said that they understood Biden’s decision to have Griner released without him, Whelan still “extremely disappointed” at the move.
