Pennsylvania history teacher Marc Fogel returned to the United States Tuesday after more than three years of wrongful detention in Russia. President Donald Trump announced Fogel’s release during a press briefing, praising the deal as “very fair, very reasonable” and hinting that another American detainee—someone “very special”—would be freed on Wednesday.
Fogel, a Pennsylvania native, was arrested in Russia in 2021 and sentenced to 14 years in prison for possessing medical marijuana. His release marks the latest in a series of successful efforts by the Trump administration to bring home Americans detained abroad.
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Fogel, who arrived in the U.S. on Tuesday evening, expressed profound gratitude to President Trump and his team, particularly Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a key role in negotiating his release.
“President Trump is a hero,” Fogel said. “I will forever be indebted to President Trump, to Steve over there—what a dynamic man this guy is. When I met him, the energy, the can-do attitude just exudes from his body.”
President Trump’s efforts to secure Fogel’s release fulfilled a promise he made to Fogel’s 95-year-old mother, Malphine, during a meeting in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July.
“I would like to thank [President Trump] profusely,” Malphine Fogel said. “He promised me he would get him out—and he kept his promise, and I can’t thank him enough.”
Fogel’s wife, Anne, echoed the sentiment, saying, “[President Trump] was true to his word. It’s amazing. It’s just such a different relationship, and I’m just so incredibly grateful to the president.”
Fogel’s release was met with widespread acclaim from both sides of the political aisle. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) and Senator John Fetterman (D) joined Republican lawmakers in applauding the administration’s efforts.
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“After more than three years in Russian captivity, I join his family, our federal partners, and all of his fellow Pennsylvanians in welcoming Marc Fogel home—exactly where he belongs,” Shapiro said.
Fetterman added, “Marc Fogel’s return home is long overdue—and I know all of Pennsylvania, especially his family, will be welcoming him back with open arms.”
Republican Senator Dave McCormick and Representatives Mike Kelly and GT Thompson also expressed their gratitude to President Trump and his team for their swift action.
Fogel’s release was met with widespread acclaim from both sides of the political aisle. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) and Senator John Fetterman (D) joined Republican lawmakers in applauding the administration’s efforts.
“After more than three years in Russian captivity, I join his family, our federal partners, and all of his fellow Pennsylvanians in welcoming Marc Fogel home—exactly where he belongs,” Shapiro said.
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Fetterman added, “Marc Fogel’s return home is long overdue—and I know all of Pennsylvania, especially his family, will be welcoming him back with open arms.”
Republican Senator Dave McCormick and Representatives Mike Kelly and GT Thompson also expressed their gratitude to President Trump and his team for their swift action.
While President Trump declined to provide details about the next American set to be released, he hinted that the individual is “very special” and that the announcement would come on Wednesday.
The Trump administration’s focus on securing the release of detained Americans has been a hallmark of its foreign policy, drawing praise from diplomats and lawmakers alike. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul called Fogel’s release “fantastic news” and credited President Trump for his leadership.
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