President Joe Biden made the controversial decision last week to free WNBA star Brittney Griner in a prisoner exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout in a deal with the Russian government.
Biden faced backlash for the exchange in that the deal left former United States Marine Paul Whelan, currently serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges, in Russian custody.
Former president Donald Trump took to Truth Social earlier this week to lambast Biden’s decision while also claiming he would have freed Whelan despite turning down a deal that would have done just that:
“I turned down a deal with Russia for a one-on-one swap of the so-called Merchant of Death for Paul Whelan,” said Trump. “I wouldn’t have made the deal for a hundred people in exchange for someone that has killed untold numbers of people with his arms deals. I would have gotten Paul out, however, just as I did with a record number of other hostages. The deal for Griner is crazy and bad. The taking wouldn’t have even happened during my Administration, but if it did, I would have gotten her out, fast!
Few people have a way with words like former president Trump.
Brittney Griner is currently relaxing with her wife on a military base outside San Antonio, Texas.
[The Hill]
