US President Donald Trump on Friday thanked the Iranian authorities for the release of former US Navy personnel Michael White, who have been in detention for two years.
On his official Twitter account, Trump re-posted clips showing White upon his return home, saying: “It is great that Michael is in his home country. He arrived a little while ago, which is very exciting.”
So great to have Michael home. Just arrived. Very exciting. Thank you to Iran. Don’t wait until after U.S. Election to make the Big deal. I’m going to win. You’ll make a better deal now! https://t.co/OGJU2VWBWq
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2020
Trump addressed the Tehran government by saying: “Thank you, Iran. Do not wait for the American elections to conclude a grand deal. I will win it and will make a better deal now!”
White was detained with the Iranian authorities in July 2018 during a visit to meet a woman who had communicated with her over the Internet and had romantic relations with her, and was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for insulting Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and publishing classified information on the Internet.