President Donald Trump welcomed Marc Fogel, an American teacher recently released from a Russian prison, during his Joint Address to Congress. The event took place on Tuesday evening at 9:00 p.m. ET in the House chamber. Trump’s speech, titled “Renewal of the American Dream,” highlighted his achievements in the first 43 days of his presidency and outlined his plans moving forward.
Fogel, 63, was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison for possessing medical marijuana prescribed by a U.S. doctor. He worked at the Anglo-American School in Moscow and had dedicated 27 years to teaching the children of diplomats. The U.S. State Department classified him as “wrongfully detained” in December.
Joining Fogel at the address was his 95-year-old mother, Malphine Fogel. Trump had previously met her at a rally in Pennsylvania, where she asked him to help secure her son’s release. She was set to appear on stage with Trump but was nearly caught in the chaos of an assassination attempt during the rally.
After returning to the U.S. last month, Fogel expressed his gratitude, saying he felt like the “luckiest man on earth.” He credited Trump and others who worked to secure his release as heroes. “I want you to know that I am not a hero in this at all,” Fogel said. “President Trump is a hero. The diplomats and lawmakers who fought for me are heroes.”
Fogel also praised his mother, calling her “the most dynamic 95-year-old on earth.” Trump noted the strong impression Malphine made when they met, recalling her plea for help in getting her son home.
Fogel had previously expressed feelings of despair after being excluded from a prisoner swap in August, where higher-profile detainees received priority. He described feeling like a “second-class citizen” as he waited for assistance.
In addition to Fogel and his mother, Trump invited several other guests to the address. Among them were January Littlejohn, who helped her daughter escape gender ideology, and Elliston Berry, a teenager who faced bullying at school. The event aimed to showcase individuals with compelling stories and highlight various issues affecting American families.