Rick Grinnell

These individuals were completely in the dark. So much so, Megan, that when I what you you were showing that video of me walking out on the tarmac, we were on the tarmac for about two and a half hours waiting. And I didn't know if they kind of were not going to give us the individuals. We waited and waited and everybody on the plane, the Americans were.

These individuals were completely in the dark. So much so, Megan, that when I what you you were showing that video of me walking out on the tarmac, we were on the tarmac for about two and a half hours waiting. And I didn't know if they kind of were not going to give us the individuals. We waited and waited and everybody on the plane, the Americans were.

very nervous, I was nervous, what's gonna happen? When these cars pulled up and I was standing there for a little while, I saw the Sikhs were in individual cars. And I could see from across the tarmac that somebody got out of the car and they had a black hood over their head.

very nervous, I was nervous, what's gonna happen? When these cars pulled up and I was standing there for a little while, I saw the Sikhs were in individual cars. And I could see from across the tarmac that somebody got out of the car and they had a black hood over their head.

And I just stood there thinking, this is an American, I'm an American diplomat, I have the Air Force behind me on an Air Force plane, And we can't just stand here while an American has a hood on his head and is shackled. And so I walked over there and each individual was being unhooded and unshackled to get on the plane. And I would say to each individual, get on the plane, get on the plane.

And I just stood there thinking, this is an American, I'm an American diplomat, I have the Air Force behind me on an Air Force plane, And we can't just stand here while an American has a hood on his head and is shackled. And so I walked over there and each individual was being unhooded and unshackled to get on the plane. And I would say to each individual, get on the plane, get on the plane.

I'm an American diplomat, go get on the plane right now. One individual, I think there's a picture of me hugging him. was standing in front of me with his black hood over his head. And as they took the hood off, he would later tell me, I had no idea where I was, what was happening, what was going to happen to me.

I'm an American diplomat, go get on the plane right now. One individual, I think there's a picture of me hugging him. was standing in front of me with his black hood over his head. And as they took the hood off, he would later tell me, I had no idea where I was, what was happening, what was going to happen to me.

But when he took his hood off, I looked at him and I said, I'm an American diplomat sent here by Donald Trump. I'm here to take you home. Get on the plane. And he broke into tears and hugged me. And I have to say, you know me. Personally, I'm an emotional person, but professionally, I'm not emotional at all. That's right. It doesn't matter what you say.

But when he took his hood off, I looked at him and I said, I'm an American diplomat sent here by Donald Trump. I'm here to take you home. Get on the plane. And he broke into tears and hugged me. And I have to say, you know me. Personally, I'm an emotional person, but professionally, I'm not emotional at all. That's right. It doesn't matter what you say.

In my life with my nephews and nieces, I can be the first softie. But professionally, I just don't have emotions. I go and I work. But in that moment, in my 25-year career, I felt emotion rush over me like never before. And I really had to hold back tears. And I just said, get on the plane. We're getting out of here. And he was the sixth. We got him on the plane.

In my life with my nephews and nieces, I can be the first softie. But professionally, I just don't have emotions. I go and I work. But in that moment, in my 25-year career, I felt emotion rush over me like never before. And I really had to hold back tears. And I just said, get on the plane. We're getting out of here. And he was the sixth. We got him on the plane.

And as soon as we got in the air, they all clapped. And as soon as we landed in American soil, They all were incredibly grateful. One of them told me, you know, these guys, they have nothing. They didn't have shoelaces anymore. No phones, no clothing. It was freezing cold when we got back to Washington, D.C. And this guy looked at me and he said, I don't have much.

And as soon as we got in the air, they all clapped. And as soon as we landed in American soil, They all were incredibly grateful. One of them told me, you know, these guys, they have nothing. They didn't have shoelaces anymore. No phones, no clothing. It was freezing cold when we got back to Washington, D.C. And this guy looked at me and he said, I don't have much.

But let me tell you, for the rest of my life, everything I have is yours. And I said, you don't owe me anything. You're an American. And we together do this. And we're bringing it home.

But let me tell you, for the rest of my life, everything I have is yours. And I said, you don't owe me anything. You're an American. And we together do this. And we're bringing it home.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you.

Well, it's a really good question. And I think in diplomacy, what I've learned is you've got to show up, right? You've got to show up and talk. And so I was asked that question. President Maduro said to me, you know, OK, so we're going to give you these and now these are the things we want. And I said, no, we're giving you a huge gift.

Well, it's a really good question. And I think in diplomacy, what I've learned is you've got to show up, right? You've got to show up and talk. And so I was asked that question. President Maduro said to me, you know, OK, so we're going to give you these and now these are the things we want. And I said, no, we're giving you a huge gift.