Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Mark Vogel Detained in Russia Since 2021, the United States has been released because President Donald Trump has a “strong president.”
Rubio made a comment when he appeared on Fox News' “Hornity.”
“We have a great team here, but this is not possible without President Trump,” Rubio said. “This is the 10th American to come home after being detained abroad in just three weeks. And it's an extraordinary achievement for the White House. This is what happens when you have a strong president.”
“Whenever Americans go home, we should be excited about it. This is a case of suffering under the Biden administration, and they weren't really given priority. And tonight is really happy It's an opportunity. I'm an American, but certainly for Mr. Vogel and his family,” he continued.
Freed American hostage Mark Vogel lands on us years later in Russian captivity
US President Donald Trump welcomes Mark Vogel back to the US after being released from Russian custody at the White House in Washington, DC on February 11, 2025 (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Fogel, a history teacher who worked at an Anglo-American school in Moscow, returned to the United States after being released from Russia after consultations with the Trump administration.
He was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being arrested at a Russian airport in August 2021. Possession of drugssaid his family was medically prescribed marijuana.
After arriving in the United States, Fogel of Pennsylvania met with Trump at the White House and called him a “hero” to secure his release. His family thanked Trump in a statement for his “unshakable leadership” that freed Vogel.
When asked by a reporter on Tuesday if the US had given up anything in return for Vogel, Trump replied “too much” without providing additional details.
Thank you to President Mark Vogel, a mother of Americans who was released, President Donald Trump: “He kept his promise.”
Mark Vogel, an American school teacher who was detained in Russia since August 2021, announced that he was aired on a plane after Steve Witkov, the US Special Mission secured his release on February 11, 2025. I made a gesture that I sent to the US. (Delivery via Adam Borler/Reuters)
Rubio emphasized the importance of having a strong leader as president when dealing with sensitive issues with other leaders around the world.
“We have a strong president. I think people forget how important it is,” Rubio told host Sean Hannity. “After all, we deal with strong leaders all over the world. We may not like them or what they do, but these are strong leaders who respect strength. And he made this a priority. “
He also suggested that once Trump takes office, the US government could achieve other foreign policy goals, such as ending the Russian-Ukraine War and the Israel-Hamas War, which is currently in a ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump released Mark Vogel, an American school teacher who was holding a Russian event at the White House in Washington, DC on February 11, 2021. (Reuters/Nathan Howard)
“I think the reason this has been linked to so many other things over time is because of its strength,” the secretary said. “When you have a strong president like Donald Trump, you have the opportunity to achieve things whether it's Ukraine and end that war or not. Or anywhere in the world, they're going to play him. Because I know that it's not.
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“He says he's going to do it, then he's going to do it,” Rubio added. “And this is not a president who wastes a lot of time on things he never tries to do or does. If he says he's going to do something, he'll do that. And These leaders know that.
