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white house. first we await president trump's meeting with a man released from a russian prison a while ago. according to the united states on way for hostages. another american hostage will be released tomorrow. joining us now with more details we have the secretary of state marco rubio with the u.s. special envoy for hostages with us. first mr. secretary rubio let me say to you and president trump and steve and adam and everybody involved it brings us joy to know that america code as had an american release. >> we have a great team here and

he is at the tenth american who is come home after being detained overseas and it's an extraordinary achievement and that's wap when you have a strong president. and this is a case that languished under the bite administration. and the mother got to meet president trump with butler and the president was almost killed and it's a happy occasion for all americans. >> greg: mr. secretary you said ten american hostages i was only aware seven tonight and with the six venezuelan hostages what are the other three?

>> without a couple introduced it somebody was actually brought over from belarus to lithuania where the ambassador had them taken in and flew to the united states and she is in texas right now. that's another example. i advertised everyone of them but the team is doing great. and maybe i can go to secretary rubio me get your take and vladimir putin two things of developed and president zelenskyy saying he's open to a deal and vladimir putin got nothing in return is my understanding for the release of the hostage. and parent leaf or three and

half hours with vladimir putin brings home this hostage. which is spectacular and and when doesn't have anything to do with the other as we have a strong president and i think people forget that at the end of the day we're dealing with strong leaders made not like them or what they do and that's what we do of trump in the white house and he made a campaign priority so i think you're seeing of what happens when were led by a strong president and and and is linked

other things because of the strength so you have a chance to achieve things whether it's in ukraine and ending that war or the conflicts we see in the middle east or anywhere in the world because they know he's not playing her left around. he's they say he's going to do and he doesn't. we sting to talking about things they never do. and hopefully that bears fruit in the bunch of places beyond what we are seeing tonight mr. secretary i know you were in the meeting tonight with king abdulla from jordan and he's seen support on some level of the president's plan for god so which is to clean up the rubble and clean out the mess and begin a process of rebuilding gaza and demilitarize the area of militants. also giving a deadline of saturday at noon for hamas to

release all hostages or things will go bad. what was your take great. >> and they were a long time ally of the united states and people don't like the trump plan for gaza right now it's the only plan. is now incumbent on our allies who we work closely with. if they think they have a better plan we need to hear it so that will be the product of that indus far as cease-fires the president is tired of the drip drip drip you wants people out and you saw conditions of hostages released a week ago on the verge of a death clearly in bad shape. and if they don't go through with the deal on saturday i think we will be back to where we were a month ago where the israelis will go in and take care of the problem. he is serious about it. he's tired of waiting for one

people are two people or three at a time its time for all to come home. we can't ignore the fact that the first foreign visitor was prime minister netanyahu with weapons what denied israel with powerful bombs equivalent of the bunker busters and it's an indication of if it's missed on saturday that hamas would be also concerned. >> anybody involved in this should be very concerned. president trump has a history of acting on what he says with multiple incidents what would've happened in afghanistan wouldn't have happened under trump same thing with october seventh.

the war in ukraine wouldn't have happened but we had a weakness in the white house which leads to this happening. and there is an announcement that another hostage and released tomorrow we don't have any details can you show that and it should have been unilateral as well and can't be released until the person is released. and i can say we do expect another thing tomorrow and the president made it a priority. >> reporter: company american hostages are there what do they not know about?

and let me answer it the best i can because when you look at hostages and people being withheld that shouldn't be withheld you're talking around a hundred. there are 50,000 americans. that doesn't mean everybody is innocent but there were 6000 americans in those jails. >> secretary rubio since trump has been elected he's in his fourth weekend second term here. he is working at the speed of light and as we look at the different hot spots around the world. i think we are more optimistic than i've been a long time with columbia and canada and mexico and then go to panama canal and a violation of that treaty in

the forefront. and adele would be reached is very favorable to any site you can give us into that negotiation. >> were trying to get a good result but at the end there's a very firm understanding with that going over to panama not to china and i think we've already seen concrete steps with the belt and a road there's other things forthcoming as well. with a time of conflict by the chinese if that got blocked we would have a lot of trouble. going back home to the u.s. or what have you for restockpiling. there is a reason why they build it and it's important for

national security so i do feel optimistic about that and again i work for a president in president donald trump who comes at things from a position of strength. it's not just tough talk he acts on what he says and is on the american side of every issue. we had foreign policy for a long time and even under multiple administrations and arguing on what's good on behalf of the world and for the united states we need to do it's good for the u.s. and our people. that's what's lost on foreign policy and yet. >> greg: would it be fair to characterize your feeling is a high degree of confidence a deal would be reached that would be favorable? >> there will be a good outcome with panama.

the president of panama is pro-american and they need to work for their own internal process with laws around doing certain things and doing it the right way and we want to do it the right way but we want to know come good for them. it's not good for them to have the canal or another country with huge influence over it. we've already seen some things happen and more will happen we just need to work that way through and we will get there. >> greg: adam i will give you the last question with the special envoy in for hostages as we said all night we are moments away from mark vogel being released and showing about the white house he might even be there as soon as we get video that we are showing our audience right now but i do want to go back. every american when they hear

about american hostages it makes their blood boil and americans want our hostages fought for. and they want their hostages brought home. and they feel you have a high degree of confidence that we will be able to negotiate the return of americans held for any length of time. >> i do want to say something as we just went out there and i witnessed the secretary of state and natural security the president's best friend and waiting for mark vogel and i was there with them. what it represents is americans this is why the president was elected by americans. none of this high-octane things we wait for americans but our job is this and i think the

pictures will bear it out. we were taking him to the president who told us by the way i don't care what time he comes and i never go to sleep. that is the man we are following. so i think secretary rubio and i personally can't vouch for that he doesn't sleep. >> if he does i don't know what time it's at. >> greg: i think i've talked to mall hours of the day. certainly better than the president who went to bed at 6:00 every night and woodwork tour three hours a day. it's a refreshing change. >> a just answer your question which is any specific regions. all of them. we want them all home. >> we want them all home well said adam.

on behalf of the family but more important on behalf of the american people the gratitude to the president and you the secretary and you adam and steve who actually went to russia to pick him up and bring them home just a debt of gratitude to all of you we expect another american coming home tomorrow that's more phenomenal news. we appreciate your time and hard work thank you both. president trump said russia got nothing out of the release so how do the negotiations go down? joining us now to answer the question a former cia station chief dan hoffman. i remember being in helsinki and vietnam and singapore and you'd scare the living daylights and say just in case you don't know what you are being spied on they probably bugged your room and

absolutely have a bug on your phone and i said thank you dan i really appreciate the good news. in all seriousness though what goes on behind the scenes in a case like this? >> sean a lot is going on behind the scenes and i can tell you a lot of work has been done behind the scenes by the intelligence community and diplomatic staff. the question of why vladimir putin chose to give up a prisoner do remember that mark vogel was arrested three years ago and he was in jail sentenced now 14 years. vladimir putin sees this as part of a larger relationship with the united states the negotiations we might embark on and they might see an opportunity for a grand bargain where in the event of a deal on ukraine we eliminate some of those sanctions hurting the

russian economy which is an unbalanced wartime economy. a lot is at stake but putin wanted to deliver a message to the united states. it doesn't look like there's anything we've given up from our side in contrast to the two deals and exchanges that bypass them with brittany greiner back and in 2024 we're able to get people out and it indicates and it's interesting he's already

kind have to send them to do this which could be part of the discussion that took place and is one of the most charming and personal people and will vladimir putin i have no illusions who he is he's a thug murderer and a dictator but that doesn't mean we can't have a relationship where we understand he will look out for his country and we will look out for hours. come to agreements that benefit both countries and it's interesting putin made comments where they predicted donald trump would restore order in europe and u.s. found interesting and i assure you that trump with his character and persistence restoring order

quite quickly with them being at the feet of the master and wag their tails that's letting reboot and talk about donald trump and i think what vladimir putin wants his this i'm not into doing he would give up ukraine as we give away poland towards the end of the second world war but putin would like to sit across the table from trump one-on-one with the big issues of the day. russia has to gdp they're not at the level with the unites states

and president trump feels like he can lead the negotiations and get what they want out of a deal with russia i agree with you wholeheartedly. you look at president reagan peace through strength tear down the wall and president reagan said call the soviet union rightfully so a evil empire but also had some effective arms control agreements we won the cold war. that's the right approach to take and that will be the one the trump administration pursues. >> the bigger challenges truck china and xi jinping. every other country is capitulated to the threat of terror for the demands a donald trump but the other went in the other direction. so it might be a little trickier with china they do have their territorial ambitions. they had no respect for president biden or harris flying their fighter jets even

threatening in international airspace our jets as well as international waterways with our navy and that won't be tolerated under trump. there's no question china represents a critical threat. we have a lot of threats right now overloaded with wickedly complex threats to national security starting with the shortest use of terrorism because afghanistan is a terrorist state again. we have russia and north korea and iran as a nuclear fresh old state but china is the one we need to focus on with national security advisor mike waltz is focused on china. you look at the theft of intellectual property and we are sir they are threatening taiwan militarizing the south china sea and there's work to be done including with allies to counter

and defer china we appreciate your time thank you thank you for joining us. mark vogel was taken during the biden years held in custody and he was detained by russia and today president trump as well as a special envoy obviously we had the secretary of state rubio all these people involved and there is on american soil and an entrance to the white house we expect the president will be speaking this hour when it happens we will bring it do you live and a lot of people put a lot of effort into this as we expect a hostage release and

with report joining us as mark meredith is with us thank you for being with us you are looking at live pictures of the white house where we expect him to root arrive momentarily it's been snowing here and the last several years is expected to speak with trump and the diplomatic reception room as they celebrate him being back and he was arrested for carrying medical marijuana back in 2021 after that sentenced of 14 years in jail had talked to trump on the campaign trail urging for this to happen they enlisted him

as wrongfully the tamed and earlier it showed him enjoying the freedom on a private jet this is the photo of him about an hour or so ago as it was a long flight for him and certainly he is glad to be back on u.s. soil and you see the diplomatic reception the exterior facing the white house. they also credited steve a long time trump friend and envoy for securing his release as the highest ranking official to visit russia since late 2021 and it was certainly a big development. and its to secure the release he hopes relations between the u.s. and russia urging them to end its war against ukraine and in a

celebratory mood as president trump is ready to welcome back the former russian president -- russian prisoner was very happy to be back. sean? >> my source tells me nothing was given up in exchange for the release of the hostage confirmed by mike waltz so i imagine i imagine the information is through nt personally flew to russia had long discussions with him on behalf of the presi

president and a lot of items were discussed as well all credit to everyone involved in the release it should have happened a long time ago and it is expected that the president trump will come outside to greet him and they joined him up hour or so ago and pulling up and joining us now on the phone is the host of special report as bret baier is with us anytime in american hostages released when it's for the family and the hostage and maybe america's strength is back.

>> listen to secretary rubio he has been held for three years and six months and 27 days and his mother was so ecstatic as her son is going home on base andrews with a fist in the air is quite something. a couple points to follow up on what you are talking about with dan which was insightful which is that steve first of all was very trusted as you know with president trump. he is obviously the middle east envoy but this happened through the middle east and i talked with people over in the middle east very impressed with

visibility to negotiate and deal with everybody individually. that led dissident to russia with putin and number 2 and and it was saying the table for negotiations of ukraine and russia and this could be the beginning and just in the past two days and i interviewed him a couple weeks ago he ready for a negotiated settlement one that would prevent you from joining nato and it might require some land be given in exchange for an

end to the war. he didn't want to give a specific answer i assume he didn't want to negotiate with me which i don't blame him. but that's where it's probably adding for him to say publicly that he's ready for a negotiated settlement and this gesture if your will it's a clear indication of how things have changed their but also economic issues and other problem seas confronting as well. and i think he senses that time and there was an optimism in that tone not only about negotiations with russia and ukraine but also negotiations in the middle east. and the conversations with china

and yes the sense to do the d deal. >> it's amazing from the moment he came down the escalator at see if we can listen.

>> mr. president what american is coming home tomorrow? >> president donald trump: somebody i respect. [ cheers and applause ]

and he is met with ladner putin and the meta side the white house and obviously very happy moment for him and at this is a site to see brett. and without getting too overtly political which is a bit hard for me as you might know. you do have to wonder why wasn't biden able to pull off deals like this. how did donald trump get colombia and venezuela and canada and mexico were a deal with panama in the panama canal and you spoke to the president and the super bowl it's very

wide open and possible and this point earlier and they reference that is well and the president is very comfortable in his skin and he is using that strength to help around the world. with the senate and the house and it's a big moment. but didn't. and the president trump does and i'm sure it sounds like he will have more in the coming days. >> greg: let me ask you a question i asked the secretary of state and the american hostage from russia

and they're spiking your release tomorrow with six from venezuela and it's already tens of this would be 11. they saw dave mccormick who spent time with the family and the campaign trail and they were there ready to come on stage and the mom was right as the shot

happened the resident is expected to walk inside i know you will cover it on special report. the only hot spot and this was a question i asked secretary rubio the person i worried the most -- the china -- country i worried him most about is china which has been resistant and putting more tariffs on america and president trump had a new policy of what he called reciprocal tariffs. how do you see the situation playing out and being confronted

by their navy but i do think china seems less inclined than russia or ukraine or any of these other countries in terms of what we discussed in getting along with donald trump as of this point i don't know what's going on behind the scenes. >> asked about china specifically if he had stalked to the chinese president and i asked if since the inauguration and he said yes. he said he gets along with him. >> greg: brett we will get back to you but here's the president. >> i feel like the wealthiest man on earth right now i want you to know i'm not a hero in this at all as president trump

is a hero in the list of people who came from the diplomatic service our heroes the senators and representatives of past legislations in my honor to get me home are the heroes and what they all did and my family has been a force my 95-year-old mother probably the most dynamic 95 euros on earth and i am so indebted to us so many people i remember a churchill quote when they said never have so many

owed so much to so few. and fortunately i'm into that category and has never a person owed so much to so many that this super organism of people who came to my support. and the love that i was given. it's sustained me for three and a half years. you had me in hospitals for more than 100 days in prisons. given more than 400 injections in that time. knowing that i had the support of my fellow pennsylvanians and my family and friends. and it is so overwhelming it

brought me to my knees and brought me to tears it was my energy is what kept me going double-time what a dynamic guy steve is. when i met him the energy and can-do attitude attitude he exudes from his body and when he introduced me and secretary rubio who met my son a while back a middle-class schoolteacher who is now in a

dream world. >> we'll show you the lincoln memorial a little while it's a very special place. appropriate for tonight very appropriate so thank you all i love your country and i'm so happy to be back here and they wish i could articulate it better. and i promise 95 years old and we got them out quickly. >> she told me that exact thing. >> president donald trump: she

made quite an impression. and i am in all of what you've done and your team it's great to have you back. did you speak directly to him? >> i just want to say that i appreciate much what they did in letting mark go home and what they did. and represent that from the area. i will show him the lincoln bedroom which nobody gets to see it's very special. want to see it i want to add

putin was generous and give me a pardon. >> president donald trump: what were the terms of the deal? >> very fair and reasonable not like deal seen over the years somebody also being released tomorrow we want to get it done. >> is this the beginning of a deal here. >> president donald trump: there is good will hear a million and a half soldiers and young people he been killed as a terrible thing going on and it's a very important element and it could be a big important part of getting the war over with ukraine and what he did and he

was able to pellete off. and we will tell you more about it tomorrow and getting the war i wanted ended it would never happen if i was president and you could be a big catalyst justice evening it's a very important evening. >> does it change your perspective on putin creek. >> president donald trump: i can only say this we got a man home whose estate wanted him and

they all play a role he is healthy and maybe that helps a little bit. >> can you tell us about the conditions of the prison you were in? >> i think i need some time to digest all of that. there were times when it was extremely trying and then there were also times when i could manage it. but i think i need some time to process. >> president donald trump: but simply was an easy. >> every second every minute every day there were challenges. >> president donald trump: but compared to what we saw two days ago coming home their people are quite ill treated really badly.

and with a billion dollars in aid to ukraine. >> president donald trump: we will see. my predecessor could've had this gentleman out a long time ago we did it into a half weeks he had four years to do it. should have done it a lot earlier. it is a shame. never should have had that war starting it never would have happened if i was president. it was too bad but we did it. thank you all very much. >> are the tariffs still coming tomorrow three of you spoke with president xi jinping? there is president trump with

the just-released hostage a history teacher from pennsylvania was sentenced at 14 years in jail after his arrest in august 22 anyone at a russian airport for being in possession of drugs which was medically prescribed marijuana. a 14 year sentence ended in incredible scene at the white house tonight at the oval office where president trump stepped outside and walked in with mark vogel and we saw a very emotional grateful and appreciative man. quoting churchill and expressing a lot of gratitude thank you for anybody involved and with the president himself and the special envoy to the middle east who went and met with lida mere putin according to my sources

helping a negotiation. the secretary of state marco rubio in the special envoy for hostages and many others. the president at times twice he mentioned would you like to see the lincoln bedroom and also mentioned he had spoken to the mother. 95 years old on a number of occasion with big trouble with the 95 year old mother a bit of a sight to see as the president also expressing that and and with negotiate settlement we continue with our friend and colleague posterior special

report has fled mere putin and this goes back about a week ago commenting on donald trump and i want to get your take on this. he would restore admit these rising to jim's with his character he will restore order and all will see it happen quickly and every thing will fall into place i have no illusions a vladimir putin however i am grateful i'm glad that they now seem rip opening

the door and he could be the catalyst get award to the end and they asked to tell you about the captivity and said he needed time to absorb it but listening to his mom today on the year and said they would call in the first thing they would say is buongiorno with all the time when he could and in the hospital he spent more than a hundred days and it wasn't an

easy thing and the optimal time is a significant moment and there's other good news and breaking developments tonight they specked in other hostage to be released and we have another thing the lingering comments which echoed what he said during his transition if hostages are released before a creation there will be someone to pay.

he's given noon saturday the release of all hostages would be foolish to not take that threat seriously and i thank you are rate to link hamas it's pulling up surface-to-air missiles and protection israel took a lot of that out and linking those two is key the president expressed real anger and frustration with seeing the hostages that came home and weapons tonight and

donald trump has already approved them and sent them to israel and and this does open up again on saturday to expected to be hold back and be important there and have kept you up i appreciate your staying up late

don't forget special report with three pacific rate on the fox news channel just get your visceral get reaction and trump has only begun his fourth week this is what leadership looks like and no matter what i will be awake and as you and i know president trump never sleeps. at least when he does i don't know because i get texts and calls from it i know you do the same and they've a leader in the

white house. it's peace through strength and will you strength of the asked to on the one hand and a white fog with the specifics they are into your so there through a half years and was grateful to everybody in full -- involved in the release let's talk about broader implications of all of this and that being the president as he mentioned it giving his appreciation to vladimir putin as well and reiterated a campaign theme that he has reiterated daily and that is he wants of the war in europe

to end and we are at a crossroads or president zelenskyy of ukraine and seemingly unless i'm reading into this vladimir putin extending an olive branch saying maybe the time has come. of the negotiated settlement has probably -- will probably look like ukraine agrees not to join nato then you go back to those agreements and probably some of the land in ukraine that is dominated by a population which is heavily russian i imagine that's part of the deal and i imagine america will be part of the deal. ukraine is a mineral rich country. >> i will assume crimea will probably be lost and the donbas region will somewhat be lost in around the ports. i don't think zelenskyy wants to talk about it but the truth is the president made clear he

wants it over and i am sure the left will criticize trump for even giving any praise to a dictator but keep in mind reagan also befriended mikhail gorbachev when he brought down the wall and brought an end to the ussr. and there's a pattern with ronald reagan and trump and he knows where he's trying to go and negotiate an end to the bloodshed. with the end of the agreement is between me and donald trump and zelenskyy and prudent. >> we appreciate your times for staying up late. and the former white house chief of staff mike meadows is now coming on with us as well as kellyanne conway and intelligence officer rebecca com for who knows russian pretty well we start with the rebecca. what does a vladimir putin

think? >> vladimir putin would like to ended the war but on his terms which are unacceptable to washington and president trump's team. and he maintained a wartime footing several years prior to the beginning of this war which is why he feels he can keep going unless he meets that requirement. if they did that they would look like idiots. investing $200 billion for three years and 1,000,000 russians are dead and what do they have in return nothing which is why putin is going to play hardball. it's great that mark is home and trump understands it's not an

indicator that the numbers are easy. and it's a very good. and russia has paid a dear price and vice president vance and they have their whole team fanned out all over the world and with a peaceful result in the russian ukrainian more and this is a continuation of what president trump did in his first term he had 54 detainees in hostages back to american soil in twice of different countries including iran türkiye and north korea came back with six

american hostages and i believe that this man's mother did what anybody would do leave no buddy forgotten out on >> sean: that's gakhir take. >> it is historic, it's a snowy night in washington, d.c. warm reception not only from the president of the united states united states but all americans. kelly and is a right, we have seen this up close and personal, not only does donald trump care about each individual, we need to remember, he was asked about this before being shot at and butler, pennsylvania. another assassination attack.

here we are, looking at this. he did not forget, three weeks and, he is bringing home on american hostage and it is one of many. it is not the last. we had reporting suggesting, america will not be taken for granted any longer. >> sean: i appreciate all of you, thank you. mark, marc fogel, welcome home. that is all the time we have this evening, thank you for staying with fox news channel, we have continuing coverage, let not your heart be troubled, trace gallagher will take it from here, set your dvr say never miss an episode of "hannity" and stay tuned for folks continued coverage right here. >> trace: good evening i'm trace gallagher it is 11:00 on the east coast, this is america's late news, "