Former President Trump on Sunday said he rejected an offer during his presidency that would have brought detained American Paul Whelan home.

Trump's comments came just days after the controversial swap of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout and WNBA star Brittney Griner.

Bout, often referred to as the "Merchant of Death," was convicted in 2011 after he was arrested in 2008. His charges included conspiracy to kill Americans, acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles, and provide material support to a terrorist organization.

In his comments, Trump expressed his disapproval of the swap, claiming he turned down a "one on one swap" of Bout for Paul Whelan during his time in office.

Former President Trump took to Truth Social to express his disapproval of the Griner-Bout swap while claiming he could have freed Whelan during his presidency.

Trump says that he would not have traded away Bout for a hundred people, citing the notorious rap sheet that Bout has accumulated.

Whelan, 52, is serving a 16-year sentence in Russia on espionage charges, which he denies. The U.S. says he has been wrongfully detained in Russia since 2018.

Trump's critique of the Griner-Bout swap was not singular, as Republican lawmakers have expressed disapproval. Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry tweeted his support for the release of Whelan while contrasting the severity of differences between Griner and Bout's charges.

GOP Rep. Scott Perry rips the recent Griner-Bout swap, while also calling for the release of American Paul Whelan.

Claims that a deal was available to be made for Whelan during the Trump administration were also confirmed, first by former Trump national security adviser John Bolton and later by Fiona Hill, who served as president and senior director for European and Russian affairs on the National Security Council from 2017 to 2019.

Hill added that despite a deal being available for the administration, Trump showed little interest in pursuing the option.

"At the particular time, I also have to say here that President Trump wasn't especially interested in engaging in that swap for also Paul Whelan. He was not particularly interested in Paul's case in the way that one would have thought he would be," Hill said on CBS's "Face the Nation" with Margaret Brennan.

Bolton commented similarly to CBS News, saying, "The possibility of a Bout-for-Whelan trade existed back then, and it wasn't made, for very good reasons having to deal with Viktor Bout."

Whelan remains imprisoned in Russia, publicly expressing his "disappointment" in the Biden administration following the Griner-Bout swap.

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