Patel: FBI working to ‘zero out’ number of American hostages overseas

SUMMARY

FBI Director Kash Patel made a bold promise Thursday, vowing to “zero out” the number of Americans held hostage overseas. Speaking at a State Department flag-raising ceremony honoring hostages and their families, Patel said, “I’ll do everything as FBI director to make sure no other American family feels that pain.” He highlighted the Trump administration’s efforts to bring home citizens from places like Russia, Venezuela, and Gaza, where Hamas still holds Americans. “We don’t have everybody back yet,” he admitted, pledging round-the-clock work to fix that and prevent future cases. Last month, American Marc Fogel came home from Russia after a prisoner swap, a win for the team. Patel’s not alone—Adam Boehler, Trump’s pick for special envoy for hostage affairs, was there too, calling it the only job he’d take. “If you’re abroad and taken, the country’s got your back,” Boehler said. The FBI’s got a key role in these rescues, and Patel’s setting the tone early, just weeks into his tenure.