President Trump Welcomes Freed American Hostage Marc Fogel Back Home!

President Trump just welcomed freed American hostage Marc Fogel back home!

Marc Fogel, a former history teacher, had been held in captivity in Russia since 2021.

He had originally been arrested at a Russian airport for possessing medical marijuana and was subsequently sentenced to 14 years in Russian jail.

However, President Trump had promised to get him out.

And, after being totally abandoned by the Biden administration these past four years, President Trump has done just that, not even a month into his second term!

Check out these awesome photos and videos of Marc Fogel’s return home:

Welcome home, Marc Fogel. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/3WJ2uDDfm5

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 12, 2025

MARC FOGEL IS BACK!!! 🇺🇸

PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT!!! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZMceoU0OfA

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 12, 2025

WELCOME HOME, MARC FOGEL! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/MgLsdR8f2r

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) February 12, 2025

Here’s the full White House video of President Trump welcoming Marc Fogel back home:

President Trump Greets and Welcomes Marc Fogel Back to The United States https://t.co/LfMAk8NdGj

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 12, 2025

During an interview after he returned back to U.S. soil, Marc Fogel thanked President Trump, calling him a “hero!”

Watch that clip here:

🚨 FREED PRISONER MARC FOGEL: "PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A HERO!"

After Biden abandoned him for SEVERAL YEARS in Russia, President Trump has brought US teacher Marc Fogel back.

Within THREE WEEKS of inauguration day.

Fighting back tears, Fogel said "Thank you, President Trump. I'm in… pic.twitter.com/OEljvlveqd

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 12, 2025

President Trump had previously promised Fogel’s 95-year-old mother during a campaign rally that if elected, he would bring her son home:

"When I saw [Marc Fogel's] mother at a rally, she said, 'If you win, will you get my son out?' I promised her—she’s 95 years old—and I said, 'We’ll get him out,' and we got him out pretty quickly." –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/jQ681LMxgD

— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) February 12, 2025

Promises made, promises kept!

This is what America First looks like!

The New York Post reported:

Pennsylvania teacher Marc Fogel called President Trump “a hero” Tuesday in his first remarks since the president’s administration secured his release from a Russian prison.

“I want you to know that I am not a hero in this at all. And President Trump is a hero,” Fogel said after meeting Trump at the White House.

“These men that came from the diplomatic service are heroes,” Fogel continued. “The senators and representatives that passed legislation in my honor – they got me home – they are heroes.”

“I am in awe of what they all did.”

Trump, 78, greeted Fogel outside the White House on a snowy night in Washington just hours after his administration negotiated a deal to free the wrongfully detained American.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) were among several dignitaries that lined up behind the president to shake the elated Fogel’s hand.

Fogel had been detained for the last three and a half years in Russia after being arrested with what he claimed was legally prescribed marijuana.

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Fox News has more on the details of Fogel’s release:

Trump’s national security advisor, Michael Waltz, had said the U.S. and Russia “negotiated an exchange” to ensure Fogel’s release, although he did not disclose what the U.S. was giving up. Some previous negotiations have involved releases of Russians by the U.S. or its allies in exchange for a detained American.

When asked by reporters on Tuesday whether the U.S. had given up anything in return for Fogel, Trump replied “not much” without offering additional details.

Fogel’s family thanked Trump and others who worked to secure his release.

“We are beyond grateful, relieved, and overwhelmed that after more than three years of detention, our father, husband, and son, Marc Fogel, is finally coming home,” the family said in a statement.

“Thanks to the unwavering leadership of President Trump, Marc will soon be back on American soil, free where he belongs. This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today, we begin to heal,” the statement added.