What Did Trump Give Russia in Exchange for Marc Fogel? What We Know

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States did not give "much" to Russia in exchange for American teacher Marc Fogel, who was held for more than three years on a drug smuggling conviction, but he did not elaborate.

Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for additional comment.

Why It Matters

Fogel was arrested in Moscow in 2021 for carrying cannabis, which his lawyer said was prescribed to him in the United States to treat chronic pain. He was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison in June 2022.

His release was described by Michael Waltz, Trump's national security adviser, as an "exchange," but no details were given, and it is not known what the U.S. gave Russia in return.

What To Know

In a post to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Waltz wrote: "Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia. President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the President's advisors negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine."

Since Trump's inauguration, Waltz continued, "he has successfully secured the release of Americans detained around the world, and President Trump will continue until all Americans being held are returned to the United States. By tonight, Marc Fogel will be on American soil and reunited with his family and loved ones thanks to President Trump's leadership."

In a follow-up impromptu news conference with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump was asked about the details surrounding the exchange and if the U.S. gave anything to Russia as part of the deal.

He replied, "Not much, no. They were very nice, we were treated very nicely by Russia, actually. I hope that's the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war and millions of people can stop being killed."

Trump continued, "They've lost millions of people...in terms of soldiers probably 1.5 million soldiers in a short period of time." Trump also said that Fogel will "be at the White House tonight."

While speaking to CNN's Kaitlan Collins on Tuesday night, U.S. Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler, who helped negotiate Fogel's return, said, "This was a unilateral decision. It means for us, we make and give thoughts to other people that are nonviolent from a Russia perspective and so it means the president's open to things now, because this was a first step one way or another."

"You won't see an exchange go on right now. I think you will see the president give consideration if there are some nonviolent people, or maybe there's no issues one way or another. But you will not see a one-for-one thing happening at the same time," Boehler added.

Fogel landed in the U.S. around 10 p.m. ET and immediately headed to the White House to meet Trump. Fogel was seen draped in an American flag.

While speaking to media inside the White House, Fogel said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "very generous" in granting a pardon.

What People Are Saying

Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X: "Tonight, Marc Fogel will return from Russia and reunite with his family. Promises Made. Promises Kept."

Trump's Rapid Response 47 team posted to X on Tuesday: "Malphine Fogel — whose son, Marc, was just released from a Russian jail after being wrongfully detained since 2021 — has a message for @POTUS: 'I would like to thank him profusely. He promised me he would get him out — and he kept his promise, and I can't thank him enough.'"

Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania posted to X on Tuesday: "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. I want to thank @POTUS and @SteveWitkoff for their efforts in finally bringing Marc home."

What's Next

Trump on Tuesday posted to Truth Social that he also plans to send Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump said the war between Russia and Ukraine "must" end soon.

Update 2/11/25, 10:42 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.