Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Karine Jean-Pierre Claps Back After Peter Doocy Sneers At Brittney Griner Prisoner Swap

Twitter screenshot of Peter Doocy; Twitter screenshot of Karine Jean-Pierre
@therecount/Twitter

The White House Press Secretary was quick to remind the Fox News reporter that Griner is 'an American citizen.'

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sparred with Fox News reporter Peter Doocy after he suggested Russia got "such a better deal” when the White House secured the release of professional basketball player Brittney Griner in a prisoner exchange with Russia after she was sentenced to nine years on drug smuggling charges.

Jean-Pierre was quick to remind Doocy Griner is "an American citizen" and countered any suggestion Griner should not have been released in exchange for a convicted Russian arms trafficker who had been nicknamed "The Merchant of Death."


You can watch what happened in the video below.

Griner, a professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), was detained by Russian customs after cartridges containing less than an ounce of hashish oil for personal use were found in her luggage.

American officials expressed concern Russia was using her as leverage in response to the Western sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. News outlets reported over the summer the American government offered to swap Griner and United States Marine Paul Whelan for Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker.

Ultimately, Russia agreed to swap Griner for Bout, an entrepreneur and former Soviet military translator who reportedly used his multiple air transport companies to smuggle weapons since the collapse of the Soviet Union from Eastern Europe to Africa and the Middle East during the 1990s and early 2000s.

In 2011, Bout was convicted by a jury in a Manhattan federal court of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and officials, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles and providing aid to a terrorist organization. He was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment.

These facts enraged right-wingers who suggested Griner deserved to stay in Russia and Democratic President Joe Biden should have prioritized securing the release of Whelan and Marc Fogel, a teacher who was arrested and later sentenced for trying to enter Russia with about half an ounce of medical marijuana he had been prescribed in the U.S. for chronic pain.

When Doocy questioned why Russia had gotten "such a better deal," Jean-Pierre responded:

"Look, I've talked about this and I'll say this again. Here were our choices: Our choice was Brittney or no one at all, bringing home one American or no American at all."

At this point Doocy interjected, saying Russia only "gave up a professional athlete" while the U.S. "gave up a prolific arms dealer who was convicted of trying to kill Americans."

To that, Jean-Pierre responded:

"The professional athlete is also an American citizen, so let's not forget that, who deserved... and I've explaned how the Russians have illegally and totally illegitimately treated this situation."
"I've been very clear on that. We've laid that out for you and again, the President felt this was an opportunity to bring Brittney home."
"He is going to continue to do everything he can to bring Paul Whelan home just like he did with [U.S. Marine] Trevor Reed, to secure Trevor Reed's release."

Many have praised Jean-Pierre for the way she handled her back-and-forth with Doocy.




Many also pointed out Paul Whelan was imprisoned in 2018—during the presidency of Donald Trump.


Griner arrived in the U.S. earlier today after ten months in Russian captivity.

She arrived at the U.S. Army’s Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and was then taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center, the facility confirmed in a statement.

The facility said the U.S. government "is focused on ensuring that Brittney Griner and her family’s well-being are prioritized and that all assistance available be offered in an appropriate manner."

President Biden confirmed he'd spoken with Griner during an appearance alongside Cherelle Griner, Griner's wife. He said Griner "will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones—and she should have been there all along."

More from Trending

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost
Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment

Colin Jost Hilariously Reacts To Wife Scarlett Johansson Becoming World's Highest-Grossing Actor

Scarlett Johansson has been acting professionally since she was 9 years old, with her film debut in North in 1994. Since then, she's appeared in movies that span practically every genre and garnered two Academy Award nominations.

With such a long and diverse resume, it's not completely surprising that, at age 40, Johansson just became the highest-grossing actor at the worldwide box office ever, with $14.9 billion of box office revenue for her 68 films.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Stevie Wonder
@RNB_Radar/X

Stevie Wonder Epically Shuts Down Rumor That He's Not Really Blind In Powerful Viral Clip

Legendary musician Stevie Wonder spoke out during a stop on his Love, Light & Song mini-tour to address rumors that he is not really blind, telling those in attendance that his blindness—which has been the case since shortly after birth—has also been a "blessing."

The long-standing rumor that Stevie Wonder can actually see has circulated for decades and even been echoed by fellow celebrities including singer Lionel Richie, who said in a 2019 interview that he's "been spending my whole life with him [Wonder] thinking he can see."

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Dr. Mehmet Oz
Fox News

Dr. Oz Slammed For Tone Deaf Health Advice For Americans On Medicaid And Medicare

Dr. Mehmet Oz—now the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services—was criticized after he offered Americans unsolicited health advice during a Fox News appearance, saying that Americans shouldn't "eat carrot cake" as millions face cuts to their government-funded health insurance.

The passage of President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" will cause 17 million people to lose valuable Medicare and Medicaid coverage. Under the bill, individuals earning just above the federal poverty line would be required to start paying out of pocket for certain Medicaid services, such as doctor visits and lab tests.

Keep ReadingShow less
A man and woman kissing with the woman's hat covering their faces.
woman in white hijab sitting on chair

The Biggest Lies People Told In Order To Sleep With Someone

When you meet someone you're attracted to, your first inclination is to try to impress them.

Sometimes, purely in hopes of getting them into bed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Adam Schiff; Donald Trump
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Adam Schiff Calls Out The Real Reason Trump Is Accusing Him Of 'Fraud'—And Yeah, That Tracks

California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff fired back at President Donald Trump after Trump accused Schiff of "possible mortgage fraud" in a Truth Social post—prompting Schiff to point out that Trump's attack is another attempt to take attention away from Trump's association with the late financier, pedophile, and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump, without citing evidence, said Fannie Mae’s financial crimes division found that Schiff had a “sustained pattern of possible Mortgage Fraud" that involved misstating which home Schiff used as a primary residence, allowing him to secure a cheaper mortgage.

Keep ReadingShow less