President Donald Trump’s administration has secured the release of 11 US hostages held by foreign governments since taking office a month ago, according to the White House.
The Trump administration emphasized that it would arrange for the release of US hostages under his second administration, and called for the US history teacher, a US history teacher who has been detained in Russia since 2021. Welcome.
Other hostages released since Trump took office include six Americans detained in Venezuela, and two Americans detained by Belarusian and Israeli-American Keith Siegel . At least two living American citizen hostages are believed to be held in Gaza.
In comparison, former President Joe Biden said in 2024 that his White House secured the release of more than 70 hostages during his four-year tenure in office, according to a statement in August 2024. Fox News Digital could not find available data to compare numbers from Biden’s first month.
Trump claimed he helped release 58 in his first term as president.
Israeli President calls Trump “true friend” on inauguration day and praises his work in releasing hostages
American school teacher Mark Vogel was released at an event held by President Donald Trump on February 11, 2025, in a welcoming event that has been held in Russia since 2021 (Kevin)・Lamarck/Reuters)
According to the non-profit Foley Foundation, James Foley was named after US journalist James Foley, who was murdered by ISIS while advocating for US hostages and reported in Syria in 2012. There were 46 American citizens known to be taken prisoner in 16 different countries in 2024, named for the first time. 2014. That number appears to be close to the low 30s after the recent hostage releases in January and February.
On Tuesday, Trump met with Vogel, who was arrested and sentenced to 14 years in August 2021 for possessing drugs at a Russian airport. Fogel’s family said the drug he had was medically prescribed marijuana.
“I want you to know that this is not a hero at all,” Fogel said after meeting Trump on Tuesday. “And President Trump is a hero.
Freed Israeli hostages make their first statement
“These guys from diplomatic services are heroes,” Fogel said. “The senators and representatives who passed the law in my honor — they brought me home — they are heroes.”
After Foley’s return to Japan, after announcing the release of another unknown hostage in Belarus on Wednesday, Adam Borler’s hostage envoy said Trump “makes Americans a top priority, people are entitled to I responded to that.”
Most of the hostages released in February have not been released.
“President Trump is committed to freeing Americans, taking hostages and bringing them back to their families,” National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement to Fox News Digital on Friday. I stated. “To date, President Trump has secured the release of 11 Americans detained in the Taliban, Hamas, Venezuela, Russia and Belarus.”
American and Israeli citizen Keith Siegel released a video message thrilling praise to President Donald Trump after being raised in terrorist group Hamas two weeks ago. (Omar El Qattaa/AFP via Getty Images; Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Just before Trump took office on January 20th, both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration were coordinated to secure a ceasefire contract between Israel and Hamas.
Biden and Trump have individually boasted about their individual efforts to secure deals, and State Department spokesman Matthew Miller is “important” to get the Trump administration’s involvement through the finish line I explained that.
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Trump also promoted the administration’s involvement on the Social Media Post on January 15th, saying, “As a result of the historic victory in November, my administration seeks peace and negotiates a deal to negotiate a deal. We promoted the whole world to do it. All Americans and our allies.”
Biden said the two teams were “talking as one team” during negotiations, but laughed at the suggestion that Trump was responsible for securing a ceasefire contract.
Former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump both received praise for their role in securing a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. (Getty Images)
“Who trusts this in the history book, President, you, or Trump?” Jackie Heinrich of Fox News asked Biden on January 15th after a White House press conference.
Israel releases 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire deal to release hostages
“Are you kidding me?” Biden said.
When Heinrich said that wasn’t the case, Biden replied, “Ah, thank you.”
Emma Colton and Landon Mion from Associated Press and Fox News contributed to this report.
Diana Stancy is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, covering the White House.
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