American Detained in Russia Stephen Hubbard Meets President Trump in Oval Office After Release; Trump Says "I Spoke with President Putin"

Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Stephen Hubbard, an American citizen freed after being detained in Russia, and his family to the Oval Office at the White House on October 30 (local time). The White House posted a video of the day's event on its official website under the title "President Trump Delivers Remarks, Oct. 30, 2026." According to the video, President Trump stated that he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to secure Hubbard's release, describing the duration of Hubbard's detention in Russia as "four and a half years." President Trump also stated that there "could be eight" Americans still detained in Russia and that his administration would push for their release as well. During the Q&A session that day, questions and answers were also exchanged regarding negotiations with Iran, the hacking of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, sanctions on Russia, and the schedule for the November midterm elections. The official White House X account posted on the same day: "Welcome home, Stephen Hubbard!" adding, "President Donald J. Trump welcomes him to the Oval Office after securing his release from Russian captivity."

President Trump States: "I spoke with President Putin and they said they'd send him back"

Introducing Hubbard to reporters in the Oval Office on October 30, President Trump said, "This is a very special man, and he went through a lot of pain." He continued, "He was somebody that I wanted to get back, and I spoke to President Putin," adding, "they said, 'We're going to send him back.'" President Trump said, "We sent an airplane and he arrived a couple of days ago."

When President Trump asked Hubbard how long he had been detained, Hubbard replied, "Four and a half years," to which President Trump responded, "Four and a half years, that's a long time." Regarding the release process, President Trump stated, "It was a spontaneous thing," adding, "I said, 'Do me a favor, would you release Stephen Hubbard?'" He continued, "And they were very nice about it." President Trump added, "We did this at the highest level, I can tell you that."

President Trump also compared Hubbard's detention to the issue of hostages held by Hamas. President Trump said, "We were talking, the level of hatred was not as bad as what you hear about Hamas," adding, "We got them all out. Some dead, some alive, but we got them out. It was a tough job." Regarding Hubbard, President Trump remarked, "He's become a very well-known man. He could run for office tomorrow," before adding, "But right now I think he wants to take a little rest." President Trump also said, "He went through a lot."

President Trump asked Hubbard, "Would you say you were treated relatively well in Russia?" adding, "Some of the guards were even sympathetic." Pointing to the Declaration of Independence hanging in the Oval Office, President Trump said, "You happen to be standing right in front of the Declaration of Independence, not done on purpose," and added, "It's an honor to have you and your family." The White House Rapid Response account posted a video of this scene on the same day, quoting President Trump's remark: "It's an honor to have you and your family… standing right in front of the Declaration of Independence."

Hubbard's Family States They Had Almost Given Up Hope, Saying "There was talk in 2025, but it fizzled out"

President Trump asked Hubbard's family how they felt when they heard the news that their father was coming home. The family responded, "To be honest, we had almost given up hope." The family said, "There was some talk in 2025 and then it fizzled out," adding, "A bunch of other people were released all at once back then, and he wasn't among that group." The family stated, "When we heard the news, we were thrilled."

When President Trump asked when they learned of the release, the family replied, "The State Department kept in touch, but they didn't tell us exactly what was happening." Hubbard said, "They told me to pack my bags and get ready." President Trump used the term "back channels," saying, "We were working on it."

Asked by a reporter about the moment of release, Hubbard answered, "I had heard it many times before and I reached the state where seeing is believing." Hubbard said, "Actions speak louder than words. I never believed what they said," adding, "It was only when they gave me new clothes and started taking me toward the prison exit that I finally believed it." Hubbard continued, "I went outside and saw the car, accompanied by a couple of Russians," and stated, "Inside the car from Moscow to St. Petersburg, I finally believed it. I was really going somewhere."

When a reporter asked if he thought he would be there for several more years, Hubbard replied, "Yes, several years." His family said, "We were afraid we were going to lose him there," and Hubbard remarked, "I wouldn't have lasted another year." The White House Rapid Response account posted a video containing these remarks on the same day.

Hubbard Stated He Was Kept Away from Foreigners During Detention and Experienced Shelling Near the Front Lines Early On

During the Q&A that day, Hubbard touched on parts of his detention life. When President Trump asked if he knew any of the other detainees, Hubbard replied, "I was always isolated from other foreigners." When President Trump remarked, "They kept foreigners on the front lines, where a lot of fighting was going on," Hubbard replied, "In the beginning, in the beginning." Hubbard said, "I went through shelling along with the Russian soldiers," adding, "They would forget about me. Everyone was scrambling to save themselves." Hubbard added, "I was scrambling right along with them."

President Trump invited Hubbard to join him at his campaign rally in Florida that day, saying, "I'll give you a ride on Air Force One."

President Trump States Remaining American Detainees in Russia "Seem to Be Eight," Pledges to Pursue Their Release Too

A reporter asked if there was a strategy to bring home all Americans who remain detained in Russia under similar conditions. President Trump replied, "We're going to work on them too." President Trump said, "This was a case that caught the attention of a lot of people," adding, "A lot of people thought this was just a bad situation." He continued, "It could be eight, it could be a different number. I'm hearing different numbers," stating, "It seems to be eight. We're going to work on them too."

Toward the end of the conversation, President Trump said, "Getting him out was a really great honor," adding, "He has a great family."

President Trump Said: "While I was negotiating for you, stupid people wanted me to put sanctions on Russia"

When a reporter asked about Russian sanctions, President Trump replied, "I'm not lifting them, I'm not doing anything." Turning to Hubbard, President Trump said, "While I was negotiating for you, people, stupid people wanted me to put sanctions on Russia." Hubbard then said, "Russians laugh at these sanctions."

President Trump continued, "How would it have been if I called President Putin and said, 'I want Stephen Hubbard back, Mr. President. And by the way, I'm putting sanctions on you right now.' Can you imagine that?" The White House Rapid Response account posted a video of this exchange on October 30, summarizing President Trump's question as: "How would it have been if I told Putin I wanted Stephen Hubbard back, then put sanctions on?"

President Trump States on Iran Negotiations: "There is talk. They want to talk"

In response to a question about negotiations with Iran, President Trump answered, "There is talk. They want to talk. They keep talking." President Trump said, "They're not paying their soldiers, they're not paying their police," adding, "They are in big trouble." He continued, "Frankly, we have time."

President Trump remarked, "It's a war, but it's not a conventional war," adding, "We've been there for seven months. We're spending very little money, relatively speaking." President Trump said, "Somebody said we're spending money. I said the money we spent was made up more than tenfold in a place called Venezuela." Mentioning Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), President Trump said, "I spent a lot of money to eliminate nuclear weapons, and we did it." He added, "The money spent on Iran was made up multiple times over by what we did in Venezuela, bringing in hundreds of billions of dollars." The White House Rapid Response account posted a video of his remarks regarding Iran on the same day.

President Trump States on Binance Hack: "We're looking at it," Adding "They say they pretty much have it under control"

A reporter asked whether the hack of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance should be considered the work of a North Korean hacking group. President Trump replied, "I don't know. We're looking at it." When the reporter asked if the money could be recovered, President Trump said, "They say they're getting it back, and they're talking about guarantees and things like that." President Trump noted, "But it was a hack. That's the problem," adding, "In the old days, you signed a check and took it out. It's different now. People don't see money anymore." He continued, "I always felt that was a little bit dangerous," adding, "They say they pretty much have it under control. We'll see." The White House Rapid Response account introduced this segment as "The President's remarks on the Binance hack."

President Trump States He Will Visit Iowa and Kansas on Sunday Following Florida Rally Today

President Trump stated that he would depart for a campaign rally in Florida immediately following his meeting with Hubbard. President Trump said, "There's a big crowd waiting right now in Florida," adding, "I was supposed to be there, but I wanted to wait for Stephen." President Trump stated, "On Sunday, I'm going to Kansas and Iowa," adding, "On Saturday, I'm doing a lot of telephone town halls."

Asked about changes to his schedule, President Trump said, "I wanted to see if I could do tele-rallies," adding, "I got calls from two states, Kansas and Iowa. There are a couple of important races." President Trump said, "I was a little worried about Saturday because of college football games," stating, "We'll leave early Sunday morning, go to Iowa first, then to Kansas, and then come back." He continued, "On Monday, I'll be doing multiple tele-rallies for many members of Congress." Regarding tele-rallies, President Trump remarked, "I'm very good at tele-rallies," adding, "When other people call, nobody picks up, but it seems to work only for me." Regarding the rally crowds, President Trump said, "The biggest crowds in the history of midterms."

President Trump remarked, "Presidents usually lose midterms, whether good or bad, Republican or Democrat. Nobody's ever explained why," adding, "But I think we have a chance to do well." Referring to a rally the previous day in South Carolina, President Trump stated, "We had a big rally yesterday."

President Trump Says on Reaction to Attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar's Home: "They attacked Mar-a-Lago too"

President Trump said that day, "They said attacking Ilhan Omar's house was terrible," adding, "They attacked my house too, and nobody talks about that. They attacked a place called Mar-a-Lago." President Trump stated, "That's why I like press conferences. I can bring up things that other people have forgotten."

Pointing toward a helicopter landing outside the Oval Office window, President Trump said, "Because of Halloween, I had to drive a very long way over the last four days." Concluding the meeting, President Trump said, "See you on the plane."

Sources (KST)

• White House Video "President Trump Delivers Remarks, Oct. 30, 2026" (October 30): https://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/president-trump-delivers-remarks-oct-30-2026/
• Same Video on White House YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wET2hazuFD4
• White House X Post (October 30): https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2116291650490085499
• White House Rapid Response X Post (October 30, Hubbard meeting): https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2116258867558420833
• White House Rapid Response X Post (October 30, Hubbard's thoughts on release): https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2116261620749881577
• White House Rapid Response X Post (October 30, Russia sanctions Q&A): https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2116263021995528511
• White House Rapid Response X Post (October 30, Iran negotiations): https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2116261151612801148
• White House Rapid Response X Post (October 30, Binance hack): https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2116260553228460271