Marc Fogel Freed from Russia, Welcomed Home by Trump After 3-Year Ordeal

It was a heartwarming moment at the White House today, Wednesday, February 12, 2025, as Marc Fogel, an American recently freed from Russian captivity, stepped onto U.S. soil and into President Donald Trump‘s embrace.

Fogel is finally home after what felt like an eternity for his family and loved ones, and the relief was palpable. But behind this joyous reunion lies a story of struggle, resilience, and a fight for freedom that spanned over three years.  

Marc Fogel, a 63-year-old history teacher from Pennsylvania, had spent decades teaching at international schools, including the Anglo-American School in Moscow, where he educated the children of U.S. diplomats. His life took a drastic turn on August 14, 2021, when he was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport.

Russian authorities found about 17 grams of medical marijuana in his luggage—cannabis prescribed to him in the U.S. to manage chronic back pain. What seemed like a minor issue in the U.S. became a life-altering ordeal in Russia, where such substances are illegal.  

In June 2022, a Moscow court convicted Fogel of drug trafficking, sentencing him to 14 years in a maximum-security penal colony—a punishment his family and supporters called excessive and unjust. “Marc wasn’t a criminal; he was a teacher, a father, a husband,” his wife, Jane Fogel, said in a statement shared with the media. “He was caught in a system that didn’t care about his humanity.”  

Fogel’s case drew comparisons to that of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was arrested in Russia in 2022 for possessing cannabis oil and later released in a prisoner swap. But for years, Marc’s plight flew under the radar. His family, especially his 95-year-old mother, Malphine Fogel, fought tirelessly, rallying lawmakers, filing lawsuits, and even meeting with then-candidate Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. “I worried if he’d ever get seen again,” Malphine told reporters after his release, her voice trembling with emotion.  

Despite being declared “wrongfully detained” by the U.S. State Department in December 2024, Marc was left out of earlier prisoner exchanges, including one in August 2024 that freed high-profile Americans like Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan. Each exclusion crushed his family, with Marc himself telling a reporter in a recorded call, “I just feel like my soul is dead,” after being left behind.  

But hope flickered anew when President Trump took office. His administration moved swiftly, negotiating Marc’s release in what the White House described as a “show of good faith” from Russia, part of broader diplomatic efforts that could signal progress toward ending the war in Ukraine.

On February 11, 2025, Marc was finally freed, leaving Russia with Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East. He landed at Joint Base Andrews late Tuesday night, and by Wednesday, he was at the White House, wrapped in an American flag and shaking hands with the President.  

With his signature warmth, President Trump welcomed Marc personally, calling his release a “huge win for America.” “We fought hard to bring Marc back where he belongs,” Trump said, his voice full of pride. “Seeing him here today, safe and sound, is what it’s all about. No American gets left behind on my watch.” Trump also hinted at another detainee’s release soon, though details remain unclear.  

Still processing the whirlwind of emotions, Marc couldn’t hold back tears as he thanked the President and everyone who worked behind the scenes. “I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’m a middle-class school teacher who’s now in a dream world.” You could see the weight lifting off his shoulders, the joy of being back home shining through.  

For Marc’s family, this moment is everything. After months of worry, advocacy, and prayers, they can finally hold him close again. “This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today, we begin to heal,” Jane and their sons, Ethan Fogel and Sam Fogel, said in a statement. The White House event wrapped up with some heartfelt photos, but the real celebration starts now—time with loved ones, home-cooked meals, and the simple comfort of being free.