Trump pulls off prisoner deal, hints at another big release
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 11: U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Marc Fogel back to the United States after being released from Russian custody, at the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania was serving a 14-year prison sentence after being arrested at an airport in Moscow in August 2021 for possessing cannabis, which he reportedly used to treat chronic back pain. He was released earlier today as part of an exchange negotiated by the Trump administration.
Al Drago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
US President Donald Trump welcomed American teacher Marc Fogel to the White House late Tuesday after securing his release from a Russian prison, where he had been detained for over three years. But Trump’s bombshell revelation didn’t stop there — he hinted that another high-profile release is coming.
“Somebody else is being released tomorrow that you will know of,” Trump teased, without naming the individual or providing further details.
From Russian prison to the White House
Fogel, who had been sentenced to 14 years in Russia on drug charges, was designated as “wrongfully detained” by the US in 2024. His release marks a major diplomatic move as Trump seeks to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, now entering its third year.
In a statement on X, Trump recounted a promise he made to Fogel’s 95-year-old mother. “When I saw [Marc Fogel's] mother at a rally, she said, ‘If you win, will you get my son out?’ I promised her… and we got him out pretty quickly.”
Fogel’s homecoming
Speaking at the White House, Fogel expressed deep gratitude.
“I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now. I am not a hero in this at all — President Trump is a hero. These men from the diplomatic service are heroes. The Senators and Representatives who fought for my release are heroes,” he said.
While details of the negotiation remain scarce, Trump insisted that the terms were “very fair, very reasonable. Not like deals you’ve seen over the years.”
A game-changer for US-Russia relations?
Trump suggested that Fogel’s release could be a key step toward broader negotiations — including ending the war in Ukraine.
“I think there’s goodwill in terms of the war,” he said. “A million and a half soldiers, young people, have been killed. It’s a terrible thing going on, so we want to get that done. I think this could be a very important element. It could be a big, important part of getting the war over with Ukraine. And we appreciate President Putin — what he did.”
As anticipation builds over Trump’s cryptic promise of another release, all eyes are on Wednesday to see what move comes next.