Donald Trump hosted Marc Fogel at the White House Tuesday night just hours after the American teacher was released from Russian custody.
‘I’m so excited,’ Fogel told Trump of being back in the U.S. after arriving at a snowy White House with an American flag draped around his neck.
As he shook the president’s hand, Trump rubbed his arm and gave him a cordial embrace.
Both men smiled and celebrated the teacher’s release before heading into the warmth of the White House Diplomatic Reception Room.
‘I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now,’ Fogel said inside as he fought back tears while holding a celebratory beer from his native Pennsylvania. ‘President Trump is a hero.’
He described his horrific detainment in Russia, where he claimed to have spent over 100 days in medical wards and received over 400 injections during his 3.5 years in prisoned there.
‘To me you look damn good, I’ll tell you that,’ Trump reassured the 63-year-old teacher. ‘You’re in good shape.’
‘We appreciate President Putin, what he what he did,’ the president said. ‘He was able to pull it off for you,’ he told Fogel, adding ‘it was a fair deal.’
President Donald Trump greets Marc Fogel at on the South Lawn at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington
Fogel, a US teacher detained in Russia since 2021 on drugs charges, was released February 11 after an ‘exchange’ with Moscow, the White House. Trump said he hoped Fogel’s release could mark the start of fresh ties with Moscow to end the Ukraine war
Trump and Fogel addressed the media shortly after the teacher arrived at the White House
‘I also should make mention that President Putin was very generous and statesman-like in granting me a pardon,’ Fogel shared.
In addition to thanking the Russian president Fogel celebrated Steve Witkoff’s efforts to bring him home. Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, was a crucial figure in securing the teacher’s freedom.
‘I will forever be indebted to President Trump and to Steve over there—what a dynamic man he is,’ Fogel said.
Beaming ear-to-ear, Fogel was greeted by many top politicians, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz upon his arrival to the snow-laden White House.
Top members of Congress, including Speaker Mike Johnson, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast and others were also in attendance.
The president also invited Fogel to see the Lincoln Bedroom, ‘which nobody gets to see,’ Trump noted before the pair headed off on their tour.
‘It’s very special, special place,’ Trump continued, though he stopped short of revealing whether the teacher would be overnighting at the White House. ‘Appropriate for tonight. Very appropriate.’
Fogel had been wrongly detained in Russia for 3.5 years on drug trafficking charges since authorities found cannabis in his luggage on his 2021 arrival at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow.
Fogel had under 20 grams of medical marijuana cartridges in his bag to treat a spinal condition which causes him to suffer from chronic pain.
In 2022 he was sentenced to 14 years in prison, which was ‘essentially a hostage-taking situation,’ former diplomat Eric Rubin, who knows Fogel, told the New York Times. ‘This was definitely a setup.’
Fogel returned to the U.S. shortly after 9:00 pm ET and was greeted by Waltz and United States Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler at Joint Base Andrews.
Trump and Fogel smile as they address the media
Fogel was pictured carrying a beer from Iron City Brewing Company
Marc Fogel (center), drapped in an American flag, returns to U.S. soil for the first time since 2021. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz (L) and United States Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler (R) can be seen applauding his arrival
Fogel kisses a drink on an airplane flying him back to the United States after U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff secured his release February 11, 2025
He immediately headed from Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington, D.C., to the White House to meet the president.
Trump previously met Fogel’s 95-year-old mother during his infamous July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the president promised her he would free her son should be be reelected.
‘I would like to thank [Trump] profusely,’ Malphine said Tuesday after hearing the news of her son’s relase.
‘He promised me he would get him out — and he kept his promise, and I can’t thank him enough.’
His mother, Malphine Fogel, had lobbied for years to get her son brought home, admitting on multiple occasions she wasn’t sure if she would live long enough to see Marc’s return.
Rubio celebrated Fogel’s release Tuesday: ‘This is the tenth America that’s come home after being detained somewhere overseas — in just three weeks in the White House.’
And the Trump administration revealed that more hostages may be returned this week.
‘We expect another tomorrow,’ United States Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler revealed in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Tuesday evening, indicating that an additional America hostage could return on Wednesday.
Trump’s Special Envoy Witkoff left Russia with Fogel in tow after negotiating the 63-year-old’s release.
‘Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia,’ Waltz said in a statement.
‘President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the President’s advisors negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine.’
The statement continued: ‘By tonight, Marc Fogel will be on American soil and reunited with his family and loved ones thanks to President Trump’s leadership.’
It comes after Trump has made a series of statements about speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and recent contacts between the U.S. and Russian sides.
Fogel, an American teacher, was classified as ‘wrongfully detained’ during the Biden administration after receiving his 14-year prison sentence.
Marc Fogel’s mother Malphine Fogel, 96, meeting with Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Indiana University of Pennsylvania President Michael Driscoll in 2023
He has been left out of previous negotiations to free Americans held in Russia.
That included two separate swaps to release WNBA star Brittney Griner and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
In the Griner exchange ‘merchant of death’ arms deal Viktor Bout was handed over.
Fogel’s sister Anne has been active online calling for his release, and organizing supporters to pressure officials.
Trump vowed to continue to push to free Americans held abroad. On Tuesday, he once again commented on the release of hostages by Hamas in Gaza. He demanded they release the remainder by noon on Saturday or ‘all bets are off.’
Witkoff, a billionaire real estate developer, served as Trump’s envoy to help seal a Gaza ceasefire hostage release deal, which came together in the last days of the Biden administration with his involvement.
Marc Fogel, an American private school teacher from from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who was jailed in Russia after being caught with a medical marijuana prescription in 2021. He is returning home to the US, the White House said
Trump has called for better relations with Russia. He confirmed a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, without saying when it happened
Trump said on Air Force One on Sunday that he had spoken to Putin but he did not clarify when.
‘I’ve had it. Let’s just say I’ve had it…And I expect to have many more conversations. We have to get that war ended,’ he said.
He has made repeated statements about ending the bloodshed in Russia’s war on Ukraine. But he has also made comments that appeared to undercut the Ukrainian position.
After the Biden administration shipped billions in military aid, Trump is calling for Ukraine to provide $500 billion in rare earth minerals in exchange.
In an unusual comment Monday, Trump said Ukraine ‘may be Russian someday.’
‘They (Ukraine) may make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday,’ Trump said.
Some Trump advisers have said Ukraine should cede territory seized by Russia in its war in exchange for peace.
Vice President JD Vance is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Munich on Friday.
Additional details of any deal that secured Fogel’s release were not immediately known.
DailyMail.com has sought additional details from the White House.
