Trump hosts freed Russian prisoner Stephen Hubbard in Oval Office

Stephen Hubbard stepped into the White House on Thursday, ending a four-year wait for a face-to-face meeting with President Donald Trump. The retired Michigan teacher arrived just over a week after his release from a Russian prison.

Hubbard had been detained for more than four years. Russian authorities charged him with fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. His legal team rejected those accusations, stating that he was not involved in any military activity during his time in the country.

Trump told reporters that he personally requested Vladimir Putin to free Hubbard. The president said the United States did not have to release any detainees in exchange for Hubbard’s freedom. During the Oval Office visit, Trump noted that Hubbard was someone he wanted to bring back to the U.S.

The White House restricted media access to the meeting, admitting only a small group of news photographers and one television crew. Hubbard described the moment he finally accepted his freedom. He explained that he had heard many promises of release over the years but did not trust any of them.

He adopted a mindset of seeing is believing and actions speak louder than words. Hubbard said he only began to believe he was leaving when officials gave him new clothes and led him to a waiting vehicle. "Only when they started giving me new clothes and leading me to the exit of the prison," Hubbard told Trump. "I went out and I saw the car, and I was accompanied by a couple of Russians, then I believed, finally believed, on the drive from Moscow to St. Petersburg, 'I'm really going somewhere.'"

Hubbard remained in the U.S. following the meeting. The White House did not announce further official plans for the former prisoner beyond the Oval Office visit.