It's our policy to not pay ransom. I don't think we have to tell them that.
My point is just on how "ransom" is defined. You exclude from ransom, payments that also settle a debt. I think that is too confining. Not that our discussion matters either, the world can see what the administration is willing to do. What is said, meh, not so important.
You're right. Everyone can interpret past events in whatever way they want. I feel that it is in the best interest of the American people (the potential kidnapees) that bad actors believe that they will not be rewarded for future kidnappings. That's why we have the policy that we have.