Marc Fogel, the American teacher who had been detained in Russia since August 2021, arrived at the White House on Tuesday night. He stood beside President Donald Trump, addressing the media for the first time since being released from a Russian prison.

“I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now,” Fogel said.

He expressed immense gratitude for his release and complimented Trump and all who helped get him back into the United States.

“I want you to know that I am not a hero in this at all. President Trump is a hero,” Fogel said. 

“These men who came from the diplomatic service are heroes,” he added. “The senators and representatives of past legislation in my honor to get me home are the heroes. I am in awe of what they all did.”

Fogel also thanked his family for never losing faith during the ordeal, mentioning his mother, who is 95 years old.

“My family has been a force,” Fogel said. “I think my 95-year-old mother is probably the most dynamic 95-year-old on Earth right now. I am so indebted to so many people.” 

“I think I remember a Churchill quote that he said when the RAF was fighting the Luftwaffe. He said, ‘Never have so many owed so much to so few.’ And I put myself, fortunately and unfortunately, into that category,” Fogel continued. “Never has one owed so much to so many than this super organism of people that came to my support, and the love that I was given sustained me for 3 1/2 years in prison.”

Fogel was detained by customs at the Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow, Russia, after authorities discovered 0.6 ounces of medical marijuana in his luggage. Marijuana is illegal in Russia. Nearly a year later, in June 2022, Fogel was convicted by a Russian court for drug trafficking and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Fogel had been living and working in Russia as a teacher at the Anglo-American School of Moscow since 2012. 

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Fogel briefly detailed some of the harsh conditions he faced while imprisoned in Russia. He also mentioned the extensive medical treatment needed for the injuries and trauma he endured.

“It had me in hospitals for more than 100 days,” Fogel said. “I was given more than 400 injections in that time. Knowing that I had the support of my fellow Pennsylvanians, my family, my friends, it was so overwhelming that it brought me to my knees and brought me to tears, but it was my energy, it was my being that kept me going that whole time.”