A U.S. citizen captured by the Taliban under the Biden administration has been released thanks to the work of the Trump administration.
George Glezmann is free from Taliban captivity after two and a half years. Securing the freedom of Americans held abroad is something politicians pay lip service to. Only President Trump delivers. pic.twitter.com/C9aCD6Blem
— House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) March 20, 2025
On December 5, 2022, while visiting Kabul as a tourist, 66-year-old George Glezmann was detained by the Taliban and held without cause or charge. Glezmann was reportedly in Afghanistan to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting every nation in the world, and had already been to “well over 100 countries,” according to the Foley Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “advocate for American hostages and wrongful detainees held abroad and promote journalist safety.”
Since being captured by the Taliban, Glezmann has only had limited contact with his family, who live in Atlanta, Georgia. Reports also indicate that Glezmann’s health has “deteriorated significantly while he had been in detention, and he has medical issues that require immediate care.”
Now, the Trump administration has announced that they have secured Glezmann’s release from captivity.
“Today, after two and a half years of captivity in Afghanistan, Delta Airlines mechanic George Glezmann is on his way to be reunited with his wife, Aleksandra,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a statement on March 20.
“George joins American Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, who were released from Afghanistan on the night of President Trump’s inauguration and returned home to their families,” he added.
Rubio went on to note that Qatar has played an “instrumental” role in securing Glezmann’s release.
George Glezmann was held by the Taliban for years.
Thanks to the hard work of the Trump administration and our mediators, he is now free.
WELCOME HOME GEORGE 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/gP99MjWsEY
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) March 20, 2025
“George’s release is a positive and constructive step,” the secretary of state added. “It is also a reminder that other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will continue his tireless work to free ALL Americans unjustly detained around the world.”
The Trump administration was assisted by former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, who has stated that the Taliban had decided to release Glezmann as “a goodwill gesture” toward the American people and President Donald Trump.
“@realDonaldTrump has made the freedom and homecoming of Americans held abroad a high priority,” Khalilzad wrote in a post on X. “It is an honor to assist in this important effort.”
Today is a good day. We succeeded in obtaining the release of an American citizen, Georg Glezmann, after two years in detention in Kabul. The Taliban government agreed to free him as a goodwill gesture to @POTUS and the American people. George is on his way home to his family.…
— Zalmay Khalilzad (@realZalmayMK) March 20, 2025
