American freed by Taliban on his return to US: ‘I feel like born again’

In this handout photo released by Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, George Glezmann, center, with Adam Boehler, second left, and Zalmay Khalilzad, second right, and Qatari diplomats in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday after his release. Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AP

George Glezmann, on American soil after being released by the Taliban, says he’s “amazed” and “thankful.”

Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, arrived at Joint Base Andrews on Friday morning.

A reporter asked Glezmann how it felt to be back home during his homecoming.

“You know, I feel like born again,” Glezmann said.

The former hostage, who was abducted more than two years ago while traveling through Afghanistan as a tourist, praised God and President Donald Trump for his release.

“I have God. I have no words,” Glezmann said. ” I’m in debt with the president, President Trump, amazing, you know, thank God he’s in the White House where he’s at and thank God he got me out.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Walz and Adam Boehler, who accompanied Glezmann back to the U.S., were also thanked.

“I’m in debt with everybody that was involved in this situation, because they got me home. A free American, an individual free from the hands of these people that abducted because of my US passport, basically. I’m just thankful,” Glezmannsaid.

A Trump administration post on X read, “WELCOME HOME, George Glezmann,” with American flag emojis.

Glezmann was detained by the Taliban’s Intelligence Service in December 2022 during a visit to Afghanistan. He was never charged with a crime or offense. In 2023, the State Department declared Glezmann a “wrongful detainee.”

On Thursday, Rubio thanked Qatar for “steadfast commitment and diplomatic efforts” that he said were “instrumental in securing George’s release.”

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