RNC night 1: Freed hostages, Cuban immigrant and Parkland dad make case for Trump's reelection
5. Freed hostages praise President Trump for securing their release
President Trump made an appearance on the first night of the convention, hosting six former hostages freed by his administration in the Oval Office.
“You took unprecedented steps, actually, to secure my release and your administration really fought for me,” Pastor Andy Brunson, who was held captive in Turkey for two years, told the president.
“I think I speak for my fellow former hostages and detainees here when I say, I’m as grateful as I’ve ever been for anything to be home safely, and thank you for the invitation and opportunity to be here,” said Sam Goodwin, who was held in Syria for 63 days. “Ambassador O’Brien was incredibly supportive and helpful to my family and I can’t say enough nice things about him.”
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Trump appointed Robert O’Brien to serve as the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs in 2018. The following year, O’Brien became the president’s national security advisor.
“I went through a lot in their ‘injustice’ system,” Michael White said as he recalled his experience as a hostage in Iran. “Iran is an oppressive, extortionist, terrorist regime.”
“What you did, sir, is you were able to get me out of that prison in record time,” White said to the president.
Josh Holt and his wife, Tamara, were held hostage in Venezuela for two years. Holt expressed his gratitude to Trump and former Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who helped secure his release and spoke fondly of his previous encounter with the commander-in-chief.
“It was … a great honor to be able to meet you right when we got back,” Holt proclaimed. “I remember a lot of people asked me ‘what was it like meeting President Trump?’ And I just say, ‘I was … blown away. I had just gotten released after two years, then I’m shaking the hand of the president in the Oval Office, I don’t really remember a lot of it.’”
“It’s been great to be back, helping people through situations that they’ve gone through and now we have started our family,” he added.
The sixth hostage, Bryan Nerren, thanked Trump for sending a letter to his wife as he was held captive in India. “It really gave her the hope and the peace.”
“From that time forward, as more people got involved, especially the ambassador there in India, things became more peaceful … and the hope was there for the last four months, that we really would get to come home,” he added.
“We have a few more people we want to get back and we will get them back and they’ll be back very soon,” Trump vowed as he thanked the freed hostages for joining him.
