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Trump’s Promise to Marc Fogel’s Mother and His Subsequent Release from Russian Custody

On July 13, 2024, President Donald Trump met with Malphine Fogel, the mother of American teacher Marc Fogel, in Butler, Pennsylvania. During this meeting, Trump pledged to secure her son’s return if he were elected. This encounter occurred just moments before an assassination attempt on Trump’s life, which narrowly missed him.

Representative Mark Kelly, a Republican from Pennsylvania, was present during the meeting and maintained that the events unfolded in an astonishingly serendipitous manner. According to Kelly, “The president survived the assassination attempt on July 13 in Butler, and he fulfilled his commitment to Mrs. Fogel that he would get her son home. It is an incredible, providential story.”

During the rally following the meeting with Fogel’s mother, Trump showcased data illustrating the surge of illegal immigration under the Biden-Harris administration. While he was addressing the crowd and gesturing towards the chart, a bullet fired by the now-deceased assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, grazed Trump’s ear. He later attributed his survival to the position of the chart at that moment.

A Remarkable Parallel

Kelly drew a comparison between the situation and the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” emphasizing a theme of reflection on one’s existence and impact. He noted, “The theme of the movie was that George Bailey was very frustrated, but he was given a glimpse of life and what would have happened if he hadn’t been there – if he hadn’t been born.” Kelly expressed that the events of July 13 had a similar providential quality.

After the rally, Fogel’s mother spoke to Trump about her son’s predicament. “Mrs. Fogel has a chance to talk to the president, and she talks about what is happening to Marc. The president vows to get him home,” Kelly remarked, reinforcing the intertwining of hope and action during that fateful encounter.

Marc Fogel’s Release

Marc Fogel, who is 63 and had been employed at the American Academy in Moscow (formerly the Anglo-American School of Moscow), was apprehended in 2021 at a Russian airport for carrying medical marijuana, which led to a 14-year prison sentence. He finally returned to the United States on February 11, 2025, after Trump facilitated his release.

“It is all about faith,” Kelly stated, reflecting on the unlikely series of events that led to Fogel’s freedom. He shared his thoughts on the precarious nature of life, commenting, “Having been there and witnessed it, I think to myself, ‘Oh my goodness, that tiny fraction of an inch, or whatever it was, is the difference between Marc Fogel being home and Marc Fogel not being home.’” Through these details, it became clear just how critical the circumstances were.

Malphine Fogel later recounted her meeting with Trump during an interview on “America Newsroom.” She described him as exceptionally cordial, recalling that he repeated his promise to help her son three times, which she felt had a significant impact. “I really think he’s been instrumental,” she noted.

Upon receiving unexpected news from Marc while he was moved to Moscow, Malphine expressed her astonishment: “So, that meant that (they) had taken him out of the prison to Moscow…. The last week or so, for some crazy reason, I had a better feeling about things.” The sudden call from her son took her by surprise, revealing a glimmer of hope amid uncertainty.

The Nature of Promises

Kelly emphasized the urgency of such situations in people’s lives, saying, “There is a certain time in people’s lives where you realize you don’t have forever, you have right now, and you need to get it done.” He posited that the circumstances surrounding Fogel’s release transcended politics, stating, “No one on either side of the aisle could look at what happened with Marc Fogel and not somehow say, this is truly providential – this is not a political move.”

He concluded his reflections by highlighting the essence of promises made and fulfilled: “This is a promise made. Promise kept. It is truly providential. It is a wonderful life.”

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