Exploring Presidential Actions and Current Figures (Sept 2025)
My curiosity about the U.S. hostages 2025 situation fits today’s UN meetings. I thought our last living hostage from Hamas was freed, but I’m surprised more might still be held—why no uproar, especially with hostage holders walking out on Netanyahu’s UN speech? Discover the truth?
This is the speech that inspired these thoughts: Netanyahu's defiant UN address today, amid walkouts and calls for 'finishing the job' in Gaza.
(TBN Israel live stream, ~30-45 min).
The Palestinian envoy’s walkout before Netanyahu’s UN speech today suggests no peace is near—it appears they do not want a solution. This sparked my curiosity about the worldwide number of U.S. citizens held hostage and what each president has done about it, leading to this dry blog post with charts. I hope these provide historical context for today’s world situation—let’s pray an answer arrives soon.
There is still hope for a two-state solution, but much depends on the world's response. There are possibilities for other solutions too—let's all pray that some answer is arrived at soon.
Country/Group | Number Held (Living) | Notes |
---|---|---|
Russia | 2-3 | Post-2025 swaps; e.g., pending cases. |
China | 3-4 | Business detentions for leverage. |
Venezuela | 1-2 | Down after rapid 2025 releases. |
Iran | 3 | Espionage charges; no 2025 releases. |
Hamas (Gaza) | 1-2 | Post-Alexander/Siegel releases. |
Taliban (Afghanistan) | 1-2 | Humanitarian; one released Mar 2025. |
Belarus | 0-1 | Minimal after Feb 2025 release. |
Others (Pakistan, etc.) | 8-10 | Scattered; includes Kuwait cases. |
Total | ~25 | All living; 72+ released in 2025. |
Administration | Years | Taken During Term | Lame Duck New | Net Hostages | Key Actions | Notable Releases |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
George W. Bush | 2001-2009 | ~200 | 5-10 | +170 | Ad hoc diplomacy, military; no formal policy; counterterrorism focus. | 20-30; many ISIS-era later resolved. |
Barack Obama | 2009-2017 | ~100 | ~15 | -10 | 2014-15 review; PPD-30, EO 13698; HRFC/Envoy; family ransom OK. | 50+; 2016 Iran deal (5 + $1.7B). |
Donald Trump (1st) | 2017-2021 | ~40 | ~10 | -18 | Personal diplomacy, swaps; ally pressure; military rescues considered. | 58; e.g., Brunson (2018), 3 Taliban. |
Joe Biden | 2021-2025 | ~30 | ~5 | -43 | Expanded frameworks; swaps/sanctions; EO 14078 (2022). | 73; e.g., Griner/Reed (2022), 24 Russia swap. |
Donald Trump (2nd) | 2025-Pres | 0-1 | N/A | -72 | Aggressive diplomacy; new EO (Sept 2025) for sanctions. | 72; e.g., Fogel (Feb), Siegel (Feb). |