Freed hostage Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage held by Hamas, spoke to President Donald Trump at the White House and revealed that he knew Trump had won the election when his captors started treating him much better.
During a visit to the Oval Office on Thursday, Alexander and his parents were greeted by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Alexander, who was held in captivity for nearly 600 days before being freed on May 12, said that Trump's victory in November resulted in an immediate change by his Hamas captors.
Someone off-camera asked Alexander to "tell the president what happened when they announced that he had won the presidency, how the treatment was. It changed."
"It [became] a good place," Edan replied.
Trump responded, "So they treated you bad," and Edan Alexander nodded in agreement.
The same person off-camera interjected, referring to Trump, "Because you were coming in, and they were afraid of you."
Edan agreed before Trump responded, "They weren't too afraid of [former President Joe] Biden."
"So, they did immediately when we won, they gave you better treatment, you could see it," Trump added.
Alexander spoke to members of the press following his visit, and said the reason he came to see the president was to "thank the person responsible for saving my life."
"I was deeply moved to be in the White House, the same place where my parents had fought for my release so many times, but this time together with them," Alexander told reporters.
"I told the most powerful man in the world what I went through, what my friends are enduring, and asked him to continue doing everything in his power," he added.
"I shared with the president my fear that continued fighting endangers the hostages," Edan continued. "I hope he can achieve another historic breakthrough—a comprehensive deal to free all 50 hostages. I told him I am confident he is the person who can make it happen. I'm deeply moved that I could celebrate my own freedom on the eve of Independence Day."
Alexander, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, had been held captive in Gaza since being captured in the massive October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on southern Israel before being freed May 12 -- 584 days after being captured.
On June 19, Edan was finally able to return to his New Jersey home and received a hero's welcome by his small town, RedState reported.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of his hometown in Tenafly, with massive crowds of supporters cheering for the 21-year-old as he was driven through the streets on his way home.
Supporters chanted, carried signs that read "Welcome Home Edan," and waved both Israeli flags and American flags during his return, according to reports:
Following Alexander's release in May, heartwarming videos and pictures surfaced on X showing him embracing his family, and their faces say it all.
The happy reunion occurred at the Israel Defense Base before he was sent to a medical facility to undergo additional treatment. An Israeli official reportedly said Alexander was in poor condition, but now he can finally get some real care, and they said he was "smiling" that he was coming home, RedState reported.
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