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During a podcast appearance on the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, former President Donald Trump sided with Russia over the arrest of Brittney Griner, claiming that the basketball player, who has been held in Russian detention since February, is “a potentially spoiled person” who went to Russia “loaded up with drugs."
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 hashish oil were found in her luggage.
American officials have expressed concern that Russia may be using her as leverage in response to the Western sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. News outlets recently reported that the American government offered to swap Griner and United States Marine Paul Whelan for Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker.
You can hear what Trump said in the video below.
\u201cTrump called WNBA star Brittney Griner, \u201cspoiled,\u201d and implied he wouldn\u2019t have made the deal to get her out of prison in Russia.\u201d— PatriotTakes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@PatriotTakes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1659273718
Trump said:
"She knew you don’t go in there loaded up with drugs, and she admitted it. I assume she admitted it without too much force because it is what it is, and it certainly doesn’t seem like a very good trade, does it?"
"He’s [Bout] absolutely one of the worst in the world, and he’s gonna be given his freedom because a potentially spoiled person goes into Russia loaded up with drugs.”
“She went in there loaded up with drugs into a hostile territory where they’re very vigilant about drugs. They don’t like drugs. And she got caught."
"And now we’re supposed to get her out — and she makes, you know, a lot of money, I guess. We’re supposed to get her out for an absolute killer and one of the biggest arms dealers in the world."
"Killed many Americans. Killed many people."
Bout, an entrepreneur and former Soviet military translator, 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 United States citizens and officials, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles, and providing aid to a terrorist organization, and was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment.
The White House has not officially confirmed the trade and the Department of Justice (DOJ) is generally against prisoner trades. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week that thus far there has yet to be "an agreement" on the matter.
People were hardly surprised that Trump would side with Russia and many suggested a different sort of swap to bring Griner home.
\u201cHey Putin - give us back Brittney Griner and we'll give you back Trump.\u201d— John Fugelsang (@John Fugelsang) 1658956993
\u201cTrump has sided with Russia in the Brittany Griner case. So, Bill Maher has suggested we arrest Trump, and swap him for Griner in a prisoner exchange with the Russians. \nSounds like a plan.\u201d— Duty To Warn \ud83d\udd09 (@Duty To Warn \ud83d\udd09) 1659355825
\u201cCan we trade Donald Trump for Brittney Griner?\u201d— connectpoliticditto. (@connectpoliticditto.) 1658949164
It did not go well for the former president.
\u201cAn American is being held in Russia and Donald Trump is siding with Russia. Because that's where he's loyal to, not America. https://t.co/auZ6L2TRbX\u201d— Citizens for Ethics (@Citizens for Ethics) 1659375199
\u201cTo everyone who complained about President Biden\u2019s handling of Brittany Griner\u2019s detention in Russia, please listen to this video before using that to cast your vote in an election.\u201d— Grant Stern is boosted! (@Grant Stern is boosted!) 1659362871
\u201cGee, it\u2019s almost like he would be the absolute worst choice ever to hold office. By the way, what he means by \u201cspoiled\u201d is she is Black.\u201d— TK Capri \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\udf3b (@TK Capri \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\udf3b) 1659364235
\u201cSounds like what a potentially rich person loaded up on drugs would say.\u201d— Hart (@Hart) 1659305446
\u201cGood thing it's not up to him\u201d— David R. Thomas (@David R. Thomas) 1659311182
\u201cTrump is the worst president, worst person alive. Of course a 76 year old bigot from queens wouldn't help a black woman get out of a Russian prison. That's why i hope trump ends up in prison and we can forget about him\u201d— TSgt Kevin Edwards (Retired) \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8B.S. - M.A. (@TSgt Kevin Edwards (Retired) \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8B.S. - M.A.) 1659324583
\u201cIn classic Trump fashion, he reared his ugly racist head. Ya think he would've embellished details and said these things if she was white and straight? \ud83d\ude21 \n#RacistTrump\n#LockHimUp \n#FreeBrittney\u201d— \ud83c\udf0a\u270aWarrior Mode/Nasty Woman\u262e\ufe0f\u270a\ud83c\udf0a \ud83c\udd98\ufe0f (@\ud83c\udf0a\u270aWarrior Mode/Nasty Woman\u262e\ufe0f\u270a\ud83c\udf0a \ud83c\udd98\ufe0f) 1659356791
Trump's supporters have repeatedly asserted that Griner would have been home by now if Trump were still in office given his often deferential relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian government has claimed that customs officers found “vapes” containing hashish oil in Griner’s luggage at a Moscow airport. Many in the U.S. have called on the Biden administration to do whatever it can to get Griner home.