Americans were stunned in 2022 when President Joe Biden traded Russian arms dealer and reported GRU spy Viktor Bout for imprisoned WNBA player Brittney Griner.
And guess who else thought it was a terrible trade? Viktor Bout himself.
Bout, nicknamed the “Merchant of Death” for his vast arms-dealing operation, was serving a 25-year sentence in federal prison in Illinois for conspiracy to kill American citizens. He was traded for Griner in 2022, after Griner was jailed in Russia for bringing a small amount of cannabis oil into the country.
In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, Bout confessed that he was “insulted” that Biden traded him for Griner, thinking he was worth far more. Bout believed the Americans should have at least demanded U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan, who was imprisoned in Russia at the time.
But Bout acknowledged what was apparent to many Americans in 2022 — Biden was more interested in currying favor with Black and LGBTQ voters than making a good deal for the United States. Watch the wild exchange with the Merchant of Death below:
Russia’s “merchant of death” Viktor Bout says Biden trading him for WNBA player Brittney Griner was “literally some kind of insult.”
TUCKER: “Were you surprised?”
BOUT: “This was literally some kind of insult.”
“At least they could exchange me for Paul Whelan.” (US Marine)… pic.twitter.com/imY0UVuSxI
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) June 29, 2026