Former President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Sunday evening why he turned down a deal with Russia for a one-on-one swap between Viktor Bout and U.S. Marine Paul Whelan after mounting criticism that Trump had the chance to bring home Whelan in 2018.

“I turned down a deal with Russia for a one on one swap of the so-called Merchant of Death for Paul Whelan,” Trump wrote. “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!”

The statement was posted to Trump’s Truth Social account at approximately 7pm est. Sunday evening and has been authenticated by Patriot One News. The post has had over 2,600 ReTruths.

The White House said Sunday that Paul Whelan was never part of the deal in the prisoner exchange that freed basketball player Brittney Griner for arms dealer Viktor Bout.

White House spokesman John Kirby said Sunday that the deal had always been between swapping Griner and Bout.

“It was never a choice posed by the Russians, ‘Well, hey, you give us Bout back and then you can decide whether you want Brittney or Paul,” Kirby said on “Fox News Sunday.” “That was never the arrangement.”

“It was only Ms. Griner for Mr. Bout,” Kirby added.

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