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President Trump speaks at 'Friends of Ireland' lunch
At a luncheon held in honor of the visiting Prime Minister from Ireland, Michael Martin, President Donald Trump spoke and gave remarks to the room.
Kuwait has released multiple American detainees who were imprisoned on drug-related charges, including military veterans and contractors, in a move that appears to strengthen ties between the two nations.
The release comes after a recent visit to the region by Adam Boehler, the Trump administration’s top hostage envoy, and amid broader efforts to bring jailed Americans home.
Six of the freed prisoners arrived in New York on a flight from Kuwait, accompanied by Jonathan Franks, a consultant who works on cases involving detained Americans.
"My clients and their families are grateful to the Kuwaiti government for this kind humanitarian gesture," Franks said in a statement to the Associated Press.
While the names of the released individuals have not yet been made public, Franks indicated that more Americans could be released soon.
Why were Americans detained in Kuwait?
The backstory:
Kuwait has strict drug laws, and multiple American military contractors and veterans have been jailed in the country for drug-related offenses, in some cases for years. Their families have alleged mistreatment and claimed some were falsely accused, though Kuwaiti officials have not acknowledged these concerns.
Kuwait’s legal system bans alcohol and enforces harsh penalties for drug possession, with sentences ranging from long prison terms to the death penalty. The US State Department has warned travelers of the risks, but defense cooperation agreements between the two nations likely protect US troops from prosecution under Kuwaiti law—though contractors do not receive the same protections.
The release of these Americans comes amid renewed efforts by the Trump administration to secure the return of US citizens detained abroad. Earlier this year, the administration brokered the release of Marc Fogel from Russia in a prisoner swap and secured the release of a US citizen from Belarus.
What officials are saying
What they're saying:
Jonathan Franks, a private consultant who worked to secure the release of the detainees, expressed gratitude to Kuwait for the move.
"My clients and their families are grateful to the Kuwaiti government for this kind humanitarian gesture," Franks said in a statement.
Franks added that his clients maintain their innocence and that additional American detainees are expected to be released soon.
Meanwhile, the US State Department has not commented on the latest release, though officials have previously cautioned about Kuwait’s strict drug laws.
What's next:
Advocates hope the Trump administration will continue to take a flexible approach in negotiating the return of detained Americans, even those not classified as wrongfully imprisoned.
"The sad reality is that these Americans were left in prison for years due to a misguided policy that had, before President Trump took office, effectively abandoned Americans abroad who hadn't been designated wrongfully detained," Franks said.
More American detainees could be freed in the coming weeks as diplomatic talks continue.
The Source: This report is based on information from The Associated Press, including statements from representatives involved in securing the release of the detainees. Additional context regarding U.S.-Kuwait relations and past detentions was drawn from publicly available government and diplomatic records.