WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the release of American citizen and former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2022.
In a statement, Trump said Russia agreed to release Gilman on humanitarian grounds following discussions between his administration and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump emphasized that the release did not involve a prisoner exchange and that Russia “asked for no one in return.”
Gilman is expected to arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., where representatives of the Trump administration will welcome him back to the United States.
According to Trump, he spoke with Gilman shortly before his return. The former Marine reportedly made one request upon his arrival: “a great cheeseburger.”
Trump also said Gilman had been reunited with his mother, Nancy, who is accompanying him on the journey home.
The president credited members of his administration, including Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler, Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka and Jared Kushner, among others, for their efforts in securing Gilman’s release.
“During my Administration, we have prioritized bringing home Americans Detained Abroad,” Trump said, adding that his administration had returned hundreds of Americans to their families and secured the release of non-Americans detained in other countries.
Gilman’s return marks the latest high-profile case involving an American citizen detained abroad and comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts by the United States to secure the release of Americans held in foreign countries.
