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“Trump is a hero”: Marc Fogel lands in U.S. after release from Russian captivity

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1 month ago

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Quick Hit:

Marc Fogel, an American teacher detained in Russia since 2021, has returned to the U.S. following negotiations led by the Trump administration. Fogel, who was serving a 14-year sentence for possessing what his family said was medically prescribed marijuana, was released in a prisoner swap. Upon his arrival, he met with President Donald Trump and praised him as a “hero” for securing his freedom.

Key Details:

  • Fogel, a Pennsylvania native, was arrested in August 2021 at a Russian airport and sentenced to 14 years in prison. His family maintained he had legally prescribed medical marijuana.

  • The Trump administration negotiated his release, though National Security Advisor Michael Waltz declined to specify what the U.S. conceded in the exchange. When asked about the deal, Trump responded, “not much.”

  • A jubilant Fogel arrived on U.S. soil on Tuesday, wrapped in an American flag, and declared, “I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now.” His family thanked Trump for his leadership, saying his release marked the end of the “darkest and most painful period” of their lives.

Diving Deeper:

Marc Fogel, an American teacher detained in Russia for over three years, is finally back in the United States after a successful prisoner exchange negotiated by the Trump administration. Fogel, who taught history at the Anglo-American School in Moscow, was arrested in August 2021 for carrying marijuana, which his family insisted was for medical use. Despite their claims, he was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian penal colony.

Following diplomatic efforts, Fogel touched down in the U.S. on Tuesday. A photo shared by the White House on social media showed him draped in an American flag, raising his fist in celebration. “MARC FOGEL IS BACK!!! PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT!!!” read the post on X.

Fogel later visited the White House, where he met with President Trump and personally credited him for orchestrating his release. “I want you to know that I am not a hero in this at all. President Trump is a hero,” he reportedly said. He also praised the diplomats, senators, and representatives involved in securing his freedom.

Michael Waltz, Trump’s national security advisor, confirmed that the U.S. and Russia had negotiated a trade but withheld details about what the U.S. had offered in return. When pressed by reporters, Trump simply responded, “not much,” without elaborating.

Fogel’s family expressed profound gratitude, issuing a statement thanking Trump and those who fought for his return. “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,” they said. “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.”

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