Since President Donald Trump entered the oval office in January, at least 26 Americans have been released from hostages overseas. Those who gained freedom include ballerinas, teachers, mechanics and more.
Ryan Corbett and William McEnti
On January 21, 2025, just a day after Trump’s second term began, Ryan Corbett and William McEnti were released from Afghan Taliban prisoners. Corbett and McEnty were released under Trump, but the deal that secured their release was completed by the Biden administration.
Corbett and his family moved to Afghanistan in 2010, where they lived in Kabul and Jalalabad. According to a website set by his family, Corbett worked for an NGO focused on education, birth and life-saving skills. He also launched a project in Bloom Afghanistan in 2017, with the aim of strengthening the country’s private sector. In 2021, the Corbetts were evacuated as the Taliban ruled the country. Corbett returned to Afghanistan a year later and was captured by the Taliban. His family is suspected because of his “value as political leverage.”
There is not much detail about McKenty or why he was in Afghanistan. According to the BBC, his family sought privacy.
This family photo shows Ryan Corbett holding a rabbit with his daughter Miriam and son Caleb in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2020 (AP Photo/Anna Corbett)
Two Americans released in exchange for Taliban prisoners
Anastasia noufer
Anastasia Noufer, who was detained in Belarus during the Biden administration, won freedom on January 26, 2025. However, the Associated Press said the arrests were linked to the 2020 protest against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Six Nameless American Citizens
Envoy Rick Grenell secured the release of six Americans after meeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Grenell posted pictures of himself and the man on the plane, and when he spoke to him on the phone, they told Trump “I can’t stop thanking him.” No men were identified.
Trump envoy Richard Grenell secures the freedom of six Americans after meeting Maduro in Venezuela
Keith Siegel
After spending 484 days as a hostage in Gaza, Keith Siegel was released on February 1, 2025 as part of the ceasefire contract. His wife, Aviva, was also taken hostage, but was released in November 2023.
Keith Siegel is decorated with his wife Aviva (on the left) from a military helicopter at Tel Aviv Sawaraski Medical Center on February 1, 2025 (Getty Images)
On April 8, Siegel, who believes Trump saved his life, thanked the president at an NRCC event in Washington, DC.
“President Trump, I’m here, and I’m alive. President Trump, you saved my life,” Siegel said. He also asked Trump to continue working to ensure the freedom of the 59 remaining hostages in Gaza.
Mark Vogel
American school teacher Mark Vogel was released from Russian prisoners on February 11, 2025. According to his family’s website, Vogel carried less than an ounce of medical marijuana. The Fogel family criticised former President Joe Biden’s handling of the case of Mark, particularly in light of his work to free WNBA player Brittney Griner, who was arrested for marijuana breeding.
On July 13, 2024, Vogel’s mother Malfin attended a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Mark’s hometown. She spoke to Trump, who had promised to take her son home.
Trump invited Mark and Malfin to attend his speech in March 2025.
Mark Vogel, an American history teacher detained in Russia, and Steve Witkoff, the US special mission in the Middle East, respond to a joint meeting of Congressional members of Washington, DC on March 4, 2025, with a speech by President Donald Trump.
Nameless American
On February 12, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States had been released from “unfairly detained in Belarus.” The statement did not include any details or identification information regarding the hostages. In a press release, Rubio confirmed the administration’s commitment to freeing Americans who are hostage-taking across the world.
Sagui Dekel Chen
On October 7, 2023, Israeli-American Sagui Dekel Chen was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists from Kibbutz Neil Oz’s home. He was shot in the shoulder during the massacre and endured torture in captivity.
After Hamas’ release, Sagui Dekel Chen will embrace his wife, Avital Dekel Chen at a reception in Israel on February 15th. (IDF)
Dekel-Chen spent nearly 500 days as a hostage in Gaza and gained freedom in February 2025. He only learned about the birth of his daughter after his release.
10 Nameless Americans
On March 13, 2025, 10 unidentified Americans, including veterans and military contractors, were released from prisoners of war in Kuwait. The American citizen was detained on drug charges, according to the Associated Press.
George Grezman
Delta mechanic George Grezman spent more than two years being hostage in Gaza after being detained by the Taliban in December 2022. According to Senators John Ossoff and Rafael Warnock, Georgia Democrats said that Grezman “goed to Afghanistan and explored cultural landscapes and rich history on a five-day trip. The two senators advocated for the release of Grezman, which occurred on March 20, 2025.
US citizen George Grezman is standing at Kabul Airport after being released from Afghan custody with Afghan Khaliltsad, a special representative of Afghanistan, and Afghan envoy Adam Bohler, a Qatar diplomat.
The Taliban will free American hostage George Grezman after negotiations with us, Qatar
Faihole
The Taliban released Fayhall in March 2025, but it is unclear when he was taken into custody. CBS News reported that Hall was arrested for using a drone without permission.
Fayhall, an American woman who has been detained by the Taliban since February, was released in March. (Afghanistan’s diplomatic sources)
The Trump administration has posted a video of Hall thanking the president for her release. In the video, Hall said, “I never felt proud to be an American citizen.”
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Ksenia Karelina
Russian-American ballet dancer Ksenia Karelina was released from custody on April 10, 2025 after being unfairly detained for over a year. Karelina was arrested and sentenced to 12 years in prison after giving around $50 to a Ukrainian charity.
Ksenia Karelina will walk along with her fiance, professional boxer Chris van Heerden, as she arrives at Andrews’ joint base in Maryland on April 10, 2025. (AP/Alex Brandon)
“Mr. Trump, I’m so grateful that you brought me home,” said Carrelina, tearfully, when she arrived in the United States, “I’ve never been blessed with Americans.”
Christopher Gooley contributed to this report.
Rachel Wolf is a news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
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