Trump Says Freed American Kevin Rideout Is Flying Home, the 110th Hostage Released

Trump announces former hostage Kevin Rideout is returning to the United States after reuniting with his wife, Krista, marking the 110th captive American freed during his second term.

First Published: August 16, 2026, 5:07 PM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald Trump said former hostage Kevin Rideout is preparing to fly home to the United States after reuniting with his wife, Krista.

The return marks the 110th captive American liberated since Trump took office for a second term, he said in a post on truthsocial. Trump said he looks forward to hosting the couple at the White House soon.

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “I am happy to reveal that former hostage Kevin Rideout is getting ready to fly home to the United States after having been reunited with his beautiful wife, Krista. This return marks the 110th captive American liberated since I was sworn in as President for a second time. I look forward to seeing Kevin and Krista at the White House soon! Thank you for your attention to this matter. Trump” on August 16, 2026 at 8:56 PM ET.

This is Trump’s 13th message released today, and the last post was 52 minutes ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 63 of his 539 posts over the last 30 days classified as Foreign Policy posts.

Trump attached two images to the post. One shows two people embracing in an emotional hug near an American flag on a stand, with a stars-and-stripes quilt visible nearby. The second shows a man and a woman posing closely together and smiling, with an American flag behind them.

Kevin Rideout and Krista Rideout posed at an unknown location on 08/16/2026. The image marks the reunion of the former hostage with his wife following his liberation, which President Donald J.

The announcement lands amid a run of foreign-policy messaging from Trump. He welcomed the signing of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement by Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, calling the deal a step that shows “how the Middle East is coming together, and how countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way,” according to aa.com.tr. Trump described the accord as a “BIG, BOLD, AND IMPORTANT FIRST STEP,” according to newsquawk.

Trump’s presidential social post is the sole source for the Rideout claim, and the images shared with it carry no readable text identifying the individuals or the location. The White House had not published a separate statement detailing the circumstances of the release at the time of the post.

Trump did not name the country or entity that held Rideout, did not give a timeline for the flight home, and did not schedule the White House meeting. A date for the couple’s visit has not been announced.