Making use of his social media platform Truth Social, Trump argues, 'What kind of a deal is it to swap Brittney Griner, a basketball player who openly hates our country for the man known as 'The Merchant of Death.'
- Dec 10, 2022
AceShowbiz - Donald Trump and Candace Owens refused to celebrate the release of Brittney Griner. The former president and the political commentator voiced their frustration online after the WNBA star was freed from Russian captivity as part of a prisoner swap deal with the Biden administration.
Taking to his conservative social media website Truth Social, Trump penned, "What kind of a deal is it to swap Brittney Griner, a basketball player who openly hates our country for the man known as 'The Merchant of Death.' " The Republican added, "[He] is one of the biggest arms dealers anywhere in the World, and responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and horrific injuries."
"Why wasn't former Marine Paul Whelan included in this totally one-sided transaction?" Trump asked. "He would have been let out for the asking. What a 'stupid' and unpatriotic embarrassment for the USA!!!"
Candace, meanwhile, penned on Twitter, "Trading a top Russian arms dealer for a pot-smoking female basketball player is peak western leftist philosophy." She continued, "Incomprehensibly stupid from a political standpoint. But as long as it makes people FEEL warm and fuzzy, why not?"
Nearly ten months after she was arrested in Russia for carrying hashish oil in her luggage to a Moscow airport, Griner finally found her freedom back. For the return, notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout known as "The Merchant of Death" was sent back to Russia. It was unveiled that the U.S. tried to free Marine Paul Whelan too, but Russia was unwilling.
Footage of Griner's release has since been released online. Shot by Russian state media outlet TASS, the footage captured the athlete as she signed a document before heading to an awaiting car. She then got into a plane and showed off her passport.
Griner was all smiles on the plane, telling someone that she was "good" and "happy." She wore a gray beanie, but it can be seen that her signature dreadlocks have been cut off. She was still sporting her long hair when she was seen at a court hearing in late October.
