Melania Trump Hosts Freed Hostages at White House

First Lady Melania Trump hosted freed American-Israeli hostages Keith Siegel and his wife Aviva at the White House on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in a meeting marked by expressions of gratitude for the couple's release from Gaza captivity and interrupted by questions from reporters on unrelated topics.

The event in the White House Blue Room brought together the Siegels, who were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Aviva Siegel, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, was held for 51 days before her release in November 2023 as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement. Keith Siegel, also a dual citizen, endured 484 days in captivity before his return to Israel on February 1, 2025, just 12 days after President Donald Trump's inauguration for his second term. The couple credited the Trumps with playing a pivotal role in securing the freedom of Keith and other remaining hostages.

During the meeting, Aviva Siegel recounted her initial contact with Melania Trump shortly after her own release. "After Aviva was freed, she called me, wanted to see me, and we set up a meeting in New York in January 2025," Mrs. Trump said. "It was an emotional...