American Freed From Taliban Captivity Gets 'Champion's Welcome' at Home
Sarah Johnson
March 21, 2025
Brief
George Glezmann returns to the U.S. after over 800 days as a Taliban hostage in Afghanistan, reuniting with his wife and praising officials for his release.
After enduring over 800 days of captivity under the Taliban in Afghanistan, George Glezmann finally touched down on U.S. soil at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Friday, receiving what can only be described as a "champion's welcome."
"I feel born again," Glezmann expressed to Fox News, clearly overwhelmed by the homecoming. "I have no words." He didn’t hold back on gratitude either, calling former President Trump "amazing" and thanking Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and hostage envoy Adam Boehler for their efforts in securing his release.
Glezmann’s release, negotiated with the help of U.S. and Qatari officials, was a major breakthrough. He had been abducted in Kabul on December 5, 2022, simply for the "crime" of holding a U.S. passport. His liberty, secured after prolonged talks, marks a rare success in hostage diplomacy.
His reunion with his wife, Aleksandra, was nothing short of emotional. She rushed to embrace him as soon as he arrived, marking their first embrace in over two years. Ryan Corbett, another former Taliban hostage released in January after 900 days of captivity, was also present to welcome Glezmann. The two had been held together in Afghanistan, and the bond they share from such a harrowing ordeal was palpable.
Adam Boehler, the U.S. hostage envoy, played a pivotal role in the negotiations. He even traveled to Kabul to meet Glezmann and escorted him on the flight to Maryland. The story of Glezmann’s release first surfaced on Thursday as he departed Kabul International Airport for Doha, Qatar.
Glezmann may have been freed, but his words struck a chord about the deeply personal cost of such experiences. "A free American individual… abducted because of my U.S. passport," he reflected. It’s a sobering reminder of the risks Americans face in volatile regions.
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Editor's Comments
George Glezmann’s story is a testament to human resilience and the lengths governments go to bring their citizens home. But it’s hard not to marvel at how a U.S. passport — a symbol of freedom for many — became his reason for captivity. The irony hits like a ton of bricks, doesn’t it? Also, can we just acknowledge the sheer determination of his wife, Aleksandra, who waited all these agonizing months for this moment? That hug must have been worth every second of the wait.
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