Melania Trump honors freed American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel in White House meeting
WASHINGTON, DC: First Lady Melania Trump held a private meeting at the White House with freed American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel on Wednesday, February 4, marking a rare and highly personal engagement following months of behind-the-scenes involvement with hostage families during the Gaza conflict.
The meeting came more than a year after Siegel was taken captive by H***s during the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and weeks after his release as part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal.
Keith Siegel recounts captivity and credits sustained advocacy
Keith Siegel, who was held by Hamas for several months, said hearing about the First Lady’s engagement while he was in captivity asserted how advocacy continued even when families were left in the dark.
“I was deeply moved to hear about the meetings she held with my wife while I was in captivity,” Siegel said, adding that the support extended to multiple hostage families navigating what he described as an isolating ordeal.
He also credited both Melania Trump and President Donald Trump for keeping pressure on efforts to bring hostages home.
During her initial meeting with the first lady, Aviva Siegel gave Melania a handmade book detailing her husband’s life and the circumstances surrounding his abduction.
According to the White House, Melania Trump shared the book and Siegel’s story with President Trump later that evening.
“I am grateful to the first lady and to the president for their tremendous efforts,” Keith Siegel said, describing their involvement as “meaningful and personal.”
.@FLOTUS meets at the White House with Aviva Siegel, who was held hostage by Hamas for 51 days, and her husband, Keith Siegel, who was held hostage by Hamas for 484 days. pic.twitter.com/Z5NBEXGP7F
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 4, 2026
“That first meeting with Aviva Siegel served as a catalyst to the events leading up to Keith’s freedom,” Melania Trump said, describing Aviva’s determination as a driving force. “It was clear that day that her human spirit would move mountains.”
Keith Siegel freed during temporary ceasefire
Siegel was released on February 1, 2025, during the first phase of a temporary Israel-H***s ceasefire negotiated with US involvement.
His release coincided with broader diplomatic efforts, including the Trump administration’s creation of a 'Board of Peace' aimed at overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction.
The White House said that the meeting was intended to recognize both Siegel’s return and the continued suffering of families whose loved ones remained unaccounted for.
