Trump meets with freed Russian American who was detained abroad for over a year

Russian American Ksenia Karelina, who was released past period aft being detained successful Russia for much than a year, met with President Donald Trump astatine the White House connected Monday.

"It's a large honor," the president said arsenic helium shook Karelina's hand.

Karelina's merchandise from Russia last period was portion of a captive swap, reports note.

TRUMP SAYS HE COULD ‘WALK AWAY’ FROM RUSSIA-UKRAINE TALKS, CITES ‘TREMENDOUS HATRED’ ON BOTH SIDES

Ksenia Karelina and her boyfriend, South African boxer Chris van Heerden, astatine Joint Base Andrews successful Maryland, pursuing Karelina's merchandise from Russia connected April 10, 2025, and President Donald Trump. (Getty Images)

"President Trump was arrogant to invited location Ksenia Karelina, who spent 15 months successful Russian captivity. He has secured the merchandise of astir 50 Americans detained overseas due to the fact that America is beardown again nether his leadership," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said successful a connection to Fox News Digital connected Tuesday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted successful a station connected X that the Trump medication is dedicated to securing the merchandise of each Americans being detained successful overseas countries.

RUSSIAN AMERICAN BALLERINA KSENIA KARELINA HAS MESSAGE FOR TRUMP AFTER RELEASE FROM RUSSIA

"Honored to articulation @POTUS astatine the @WhiteHouse contiguous to invited Ksenia Karelina. The Trump Administration is committed to bringing location each azygous American who is wrongfully detained astir the world," Rubio noted successful a tweet on Monday.

Karelina's fellow Chris van Heerden, who reports person besides referred to arsenic her fiancé, was besides contiguous astatine the meeting.

"Today was an unreal infinitesimal gathering and shaking hands with the 45th & 47th Presidents of the United States @potus successful the Oval Office of the White House. Words cannot explicit however arrogant I americium of Ksenia," van Heerden noted successful a post on X, adding, "NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP."

FORMER HOSTAGE THANKS TRUMP UPON RELEASE AFTER YEARS OF DETENTION IN KUWAIT

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Last period van Heerden tweeted the nexus to a GoFundMe campaign to rise wealth for Karelina – truthful acold a spot much than $12,000 has been donated.