MSNBC's Joe Scarborough criticized the Obama administration Friday for misleading about the $400 million "ransom" to Iran in January, calling the payment a reward to Iranian "thugs."
State Department spokesman John Kirby admitted Friday that the $400 million in cash on an unmarked plane paid to Iran was contingent on the release of four American prisoners.
"$400 million. It's called a ransom payment where you're actually rewarding the Iranians for being the thugs that they are," host Joe Scarborough said. "The thugs that they've always been. For being at the epicenter of terrorism ... and yes, you are rewarding them for taking hostages and then lying about it."
President Obama denied that the money given to Iran was a ransom payment. In a press conference the same day as the release of the Iranian prisoners, he claimed, "We do not pay ransom. We didn't here, and we won't in the future."
Referencing Obama press conference Scarborough added, "Not only had the president denying that there was an exchange, you had him basically rubbing reporters' nose in the dirt saying how could you be so foolish, come on, stop being so dumb."