U.S. citizen George Glezmann is free from his two and half years of captivity by the Taliban in Afghanistan thanks to negotiations by President Trump’s administration.
The Daily Wire reported that the Taliban detained Delta Airlines mechanic George Glezmann on Dec. 5, 2022, when he was visiting Kabul as a tourist. He was held without any reason and was not charged, but this happened around the time of Joe Biden’s withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
According to the Daily Wire, Glezmann had very limited contact with his family during this period, and his health has “deteriorated significantly while he had been in detention, and he has medical issues that require immediate care.”
Glezmann’s release was a combined effort between President Trump’s administration and Qatari negotiators. Unlike the other situation in January that secured the release of Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, Grezmann’s deal involved no prisoner swap.
The Daily Wire shared what Secretary of State Marco Rubio said about the release, “George’s release is a positive and constructive step,” but he adds, “It is also a reminder that other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will continue his tireless work to free ALL Americans unjustly detained around the world.”
Since no prisoner was exchanged for Glezmann, it appears the Taliban released him as a goodwill gesture and part of the Taliban’s plan to normalize ties between the U.S. and Afghanistan following the troop withdrawal in 2021.
Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad wrote on X, “The Taliban government agreed to free him as a goodwill gesture to @POTUS and the American people. @realDonaldTrump has made the freedom and homecoming of Americans held abroad a high priority. It is an honor to assist in this important effort.”
As Glezmann is on his way to be reunited with his wife, Aleksandra, AP News reported that President Trump’s administration continues to negotiate the release of other American hostages. White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said in a statement that AP News shared, “ The Trump Administration will continue to demand the release of all Americans held by the Taliban, especially in light of the billions of dollars in U.S. aid they’ve received in recent years.”