Trump Welcomes Marc Fogel to the White House After Release from Russian Prison
Donald Trump has welcomed American teacher Marc Fogel back to the U.S. following his release from a Russian prison, stating that Vladimir Putin received "not much" in return.
Standing beside Fogel at the White House, Trump praised his condition, saying, "To me, he looks damned good." He described the release as a "show of good faith" from Russia and suggested it could be a crucial step toward ending the war in Ukraine.
Fogel, a 63-year-old former diplomat and educator, arrived at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., on Tuesday evening before heading to the White House. His family expressed relief, calling his return the end of a "dark and painful" chapter.
The Kremlin confirmed that a Russian citizen was also being freed in the U.S. as part of the exchange but withheld details until their return home. Trump characterized the deal as "very fair, very reasonable" and hinted that another detainee’s release would follow soon.
Fogel was arrested in Russia in 2021 for carrying a small amount of medical marijuana prescribed in the U.S. and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. His family had pushed for his release for years, expressing frustration that he was not included in prior prisoner exchanges under the Biden administration.
Trump’s team credited him for swiftly securing Fogel’s freedom, contrasting his actions with what they called "bureaucratic inaction" from Biden officials. Fogel was classified as "wrongfully detained" by the U.S. government only in December 2024, despite serving time since 2022.
His release follows high-profile swaps, including the return of WNBA star Brittney Griner in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Several Americans remain imprisoned in Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
The U.S. has not disclosed whether it released anyone in exchange for Fogel. His return flight to the U.S. was accompanied by Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, marking a rare high-level American visit to Russia.
Meanwhile, Trump announced that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would visit Ukraine later this week. The former president has previously promised to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours, though he recently suggested Ukraine "may or may not" remain independent from Russia.
Fogel’s sister, Anne, acknowledged the political complexities behind his release, saying, "It’s going to be interesting to look back at this and see how history plays out."
0 Comments