The Washington Post reported on Thursday that President Donald Trump agreed to pay North Korea $2 million in exchange for the release of American Otto Warmbier.

North Korea demanded the money, claiming they provided Warmbier with hospital care. The 21-year-old college student died shortly after being returned to the United States, after spending 15 months in captivity in North Korea.

It is unclear if North Korea was ever actually paid. But many Americans were still shocked that Trump would agree to such a deal, comparing it to ransom money.

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Jeez. I misread. I thought US was charging them. What an idiot. Kissing the asses of dictators just to see if he can keep something alive, that they know ain’t happening. What a dumb ass this guy is. I’d be rich if I ever did business with Trump.

— Purple Haze (@factsmatter1980) April 25, 2019

Clear and present extortion and a payment to a terrorist.

— The Beet (@DavidRitchie09) April 25, 2019

HOLY HELL. 🤯
Isn’t this considered blackmail. Trump got played. 😠

— Diane321 (@Diane3214) April 25, 2019

Imagine the screams from the GOP if Obama paid a ransom to a murderer for the return of his victim and didn’t disclose it. Today? Crickets.

— Craig Pinedo (@CraigPinedo1) April 25, 2019

Now I want to know what ransom Trump paid North Korea for the release of our war dead. https://t.co/IWM63eogld

— John Aravosis 🇺🇸 (@aravosis) April 25, 2019

From the world of WTF?

Otto Warmbier case: North Korea presented U.S. with $2 million bill for care of comatose student.

Well idiot Trump never pays his bills…
https://t.co/0PpI70Lz9R

— Stone 🥶 (@stonecold2050) April 25, 2019

I can't imagine how painful and infuriating this is for his parents. Essentially the Pres. has directed the US to pay for his murder.

— Mary OZ (@txMary) April 25, 2019

Other people pointed out that Trump had claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un didn’t know anything about Warmbier’s mistreatment.

Does this not go against everything Trump has told us about Kim not knowing how Warmbier was being treated. There is no way that Kim was allowing that much money to be spent on an American hostage and he didn’t know.

— Christie McKaig (@ChristieMcKaig1) April 25, 2019

Hey @realDonaldTrump you insisted that Warmbier was news to your buddy, remember? You got played and this poor family is suffering. https://t.co/yDyUpDEJzz

— AJM🌊 (@ajm510) April 25, 2019

Trump wanted to claim a “win,” so he personally approved a secret $2 million ransom for the comatose body of Otto Warmbier—and then went along with Kim Jong Un’s transparent lies. https://t.co/fifBqp7zvN

— James Gleick (@JamesGleick) April 25, 2019

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