Both wrong
On the payment to Persia, Trump says it's a ransom and says it's terrible, sets a terrible precedent. Obama says "We do not pay ransom."

Both are wrong.

(1) This particular deal can be called ransom, but it's mainly a reconciliation of old debts. We started this war in 1953, and new leaks show that we continued it in 1979. We wanted Khomeini to win, so we're not entitled to complain about what his supporters did. Making this payment clears our asset-freezing ledger. Persia was holding a few hostages to help the deal along. Hostages or collateral, ransom or a settled debt. Same thing.

(2) Of course we pay ransom. We do it all the time. The precedent was created a long time ago. I have no idea why we bother to maintain this bizarre myth. Who are we fooling? Enemies know we pay. That's why they kidnap. But they don't kidnap often, because enemies ALSO know that we do a pretty good job of catching the captors AFTER we pay. This applies equally to ordinary criminal kidnapping, pirates, and "terrorists".

(3) On a larger plane, it's always better to pay for things. Emerson makes a BIG deal of this rule, possibly taking it too far; but plain old history shows it's true.

Look at our territorial expansion. Louisiana Territory and Alaska were PURCHASED, and there hasn't been any trouble or backlash from France or Russia. Texas and New Mexico were TAKEN, and the backlash from Mexico is still running.

Madman Lincoln TOOK the slaves from the plantation owners, killing 1/7 of the country and creating an imbalance that still troubles us. Tsar Alexander PAID his plantation owners to free the serfs, which created much less trouble. (Also made it necessary to sell Alaska to us.)

On a smaller level, bribery works better than "democracy". "Democracy" uses abstractions to gain votes. Abstractions are costless and rewardless, which means the real power belongs to factions that use raw force and blackmail. When bribery is open and retail, low-power factions have a better chance to purchase government actions.

(4) Trump is ruining his own message yet again. His original message was the POWER OF THE DEAL. Everything works better when you negotiate. In this case Obama has proved Trump's original point AS FUCKING USUAL. Trump had a perfect chance to say Toldjaso, but instead he stupidly abandoned his original point.
  ¶ 4:45 AM