‘You’re Heroes’: Trump Meets Israeli Hostages At White House, Gifts Presidential Challenge Coin

President Donald Trump met with freed Israeli hostages, and their loved ones at the White House, who were kidnapped and held by Hamas.

The US President met with 17 people who were held captive by Hamas

and were released a month ago and their loved ones. He handed the survivors a Presidential Challenge Coin.

“You’re not a hostage anymore, today you’re heroes,” Trump said. “We love you all, and our country loves you all. You’re amazing people.”

VIDEO | Washington: US President Donald Trump (@POTUS) presented Presidential Challenge Coins to freed Israeli hostages at the White House.

(Source: Third Party)

(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/1o72VPhipb

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 21, 2025

The last surviving hostages held in Gaza were released in October following intervention by the Trump administration.

Matan Angrest, who was serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) when he was kidnapped while defending the Nahal Oz outpost was also among the hostages at Thursday’s event.

His mother, Anat Angrest, reportedly told Channel 12 that her son was subjected to “very severe torture” at the beginning of his captivity because he was a soldier, The Times of Israel previously reported.

“Because of service in the IDF, Matan was subjected to severe beatings, even at times losing consciousness,” Trump said. “And alone and under a special guard, he went through hell. I guess you really were. I’ve heard stories that were not good. Look at you, how good you look.”

“It just made you tougher, right? It did, made you tougher,” he added. “But Matan never broke, and today he’s a living testimony to the toughness, heart, and faith of the Jewish people. Great knowing you, you’re a great inspiration to everybody, whether you’re Jewish or not.”

Israeli twins Gali and Ziv Berman presented Trump with the original mezuzah from their home in Kfar Aza’s Young Generation neighborhood, where they were abducted on Oct. 7, 2023.

“We came to thank the President of the United States for the many actions he took toward our release,” they said in a statement through the Hostages Families Forum. “At the same time, it’s important to remember that the mission is not yet complete. There are three deceased hostages still being held in Gaza. Until everyone returns, we cannot begin our rehabilitation as a society and as a nation.”