President Donald Trump addresses the National Association of Attorneys General in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on March 4, 2019. (AFP / Mandel NGAN)
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.
@PhilipRucker @annafifield Jeez. I misread. I thought US was charging them. What an idiot. Kissing the asses of dic… https://t.co/tGPFRcS7le— Purple Haze (@Purple Haze)1556209345.0
@PhilipRucker @annafifield Clear and present extortion and a payment to a terrorist.— The Total Dr. Beet (@The Total Dr. Beet)1556209434.0
@PhilipRucker @annafifield I can't imagine how painful and infuriating this is for his parents. Essentially the Pre… https://t.co/ULF0O27WsL— TxMary (@TxMary)1556211585.0
Other people pointed out that Trump had claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un didn’t know anything about Warmbier's mistreatment.
@PhilipRucker @annafifield Does this not go against everything Trump has told us about Kim not knowing how Warmbier… https://t.co/uDFTTeFzka— Christie McKaig (@Christie McKaig)1556210118.0
Hey @realDonaldTrump you insisted that Warmbier was news to your buddy, remember? You got played and this poor fam… https://t.co/2dfui72L1H— AJM🌊 (@AJM🌊)1556212820.0
Trump wanted to claim a “win,” so he personally approved a secret $2 million ransom for the comatose body of Otto W… https://t.co/wP9ZJtPW9S— James Gleick (@James Gleick)1556210140.0
