US First Lady Melania Trump meets with released US-‘Israeli’ captive Keith Siegel and his wife Aviva Siegel (R) in the White House .(February 4, 2026)
Melania Trump meets released ‘Israeli’ captives in White House
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- US First Lady Melania Trump hosted Keith and Aviva Siegel to celebrate Keith's release after 484 days in Gaza; Keith was freed on February 1, 2025, following a US-brokered truce shortly after Trump’s second inauguration.
- The meeting highlighted Melania’s role in securing Keith’s release—a central theme in her new $40 million documentary, Melania—though she clarified the event was a sincere celebration of the Siegels’ request to give thanks rather than a promotional effort.
US First Lady Melania Trump hosted a private meeting at the White House with Keith Siegel, a freed American-‘Israeli’ captive, and his wife, Aviva Siegel.
The gathering, held in the Blue Room, focused on celebrating the Siegels' reunion and acknowledging the efforts that led to Keith's release from Hamas captivity.
Keith and Aviva Siegel were among the 251 individuals taken by Hamas during the events of Oct. 7.
Aviva was detained for 51 days before her release in November 2023 under a temporary ceasefire agreement. Keith stayed 484 days in Gaza until his release on February 1, 2025, as part of a US-brokered truce shortly after President Donald Trump's second inauguration.
The meeting builds on Melania Trump's prior engagement with Aviva Siegel in January 2025 in New York City.
That encounter involved Aviva presenting a handmade book detailing Keith's ordeal and the events of October 7.
Melania Trump subsequently shared this information with President Trump, initiating actions that contributed to Keith's eventual release.
The conversation also touched on Melania Trump's recent documentary, titled Melania, which premiered in theaters the previous week.
The film, produced with a reported $40 million budget from Amazon, chronicles the 20 days leading to Trump's second inauguration and includes footage of the January 2025 meeting with Aviva.
End credits assert Melania's pivotal role in securing Keith's release, aligning with her statement in the film: "I will always use my influence and power to fight for those in need."
In response to inquiries about promotional intent, Melania Trump clarified that the event was solely to honor the Siegels' request to express thanks in person, emphasizing, "This is not promotion. We are here celebrating the release of the hostages."
