Trump Celebrates Release of American Missionary

President Donald Trump celebrated the release of American missionary pilot Kevin Rideout on Friday after the 50-year-old Christian missionary spent months in captivity following his kidnapping in Niger.

Trump announced Rideout was back in U.S. custody in a post on Truth Social, praising the development and saying the United States was ready to welcome him home.

“I am proud to announce that Kevin Rideout, a wonderful Christian Missionary, is back in United States Custody,” Trump wrote.
The president’s announcement came after SIM International, Rideout’s evangelical missionary organization, confirmed earlier Friday that he had been released.
According to the organization, Rideout was “in good health in the care of U.S. officials” and was expected to be reunited with his family soon.

“Kevin, the United States of America looks forward to welcoming you HOME,” Trump wrote in his post. “Glad to have helped!”

Rideout was kidnapped outside his home in Niger’s capital, Niamey, on Oct. 21. An unnamed diplomat told Reuters at the time that three armed individuals were responsible for the abduction.

The kidnapping prompted warnings from U.S. officials about the security situation in the West African country.

One day after Rideout was abducted, the U.S. Embassy in Niamey issued a security alert cautioning Americans about increased kidnapping risks. Days later, the State Department changed its travel advisory for Niger from “reconsider travel” to “do not travel.”

Securing Rideout’s freedom became a key priority for the Trump administration.

The Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs celebrated the missionary’s release Friday, saying Rideout was among more than 100 Americans who had returned home after being unjustly detained during the Trump administration.

Rideout “joins the more than 100 unjustly detained Americans who have returned home under this administration,” the office said in a social media post.
FBI Director Kash Patel also welcomed the news, saying the bureau was “thrilled” to confirm that Rideout had been released.

“He is in good care of U.S. officials and will soon be reunited with his family,” Patel said in a statement shared on social media.

Patel credited the FBI and its partners in the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell with working continuously on the case since Rideout was abducted in October.
“The FBI and our brilliant partners in the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell have worked tirelessly since last October when Kevin was abducted and today is a culmination of that work and the work of this administration,” Patel wrote.

With Rideout now safely in U.S. custody, Trump made clear Friday that he was pleased with the outcome, offering a public welcome to the missionary after his months-long ordeal and declaring that the United States was looking forward to bringing him home.