Melania Trump meets former hostages in the White House

First Lady Melania Trump hosts Aviva and Keith Siegel, two former Gaza hostages, at the White House after meeting the couple for the first time last year.

By World Israel News Staff

First Lady Melania Trump hosted two former Gaza hostages at a White House meeting on Wednesday.

Keith Siegel, a dual American-Israeli citizen who was held hostage in the Gaza Strip for 434 days, and his wife, Aviva, also a dual citizen who was held for 51 days, were greeted by the first lady, who recalled her first meeting with Aviva last year.

“After Aviva was freed, she called me, wanted to see me, and we set up a meeting in New York in January 2025,” Trump said.

“It was an emotional meeting and it is captured on camera and available to see in my new film, Melania,” she continued, referencing the recently released biographical documentary about her life.

Responding to criticism over her reference to Aviva Siegel’s appearance in Melania, the first lady emphasized that Wednesday’s meeting was not meant to promote the film.

“This is not promotion. We are here celebrating the release of the hostages of Aviva and Keith. They were in Washington, and they called me. They said they would like to come over to thank me and to give hugs, and that’s why we are here. There’s nothing to do [here] with promotion.”

During their White House visit, the couple thanked the first lady and President Donald Trump for supporting the hostages and working to secure the release of those still in captivity when Trump took office last year, including Keith, who was returned to Israel on February 1, 2025 — less than two weeks after Trump took office.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to First Lady Melania Trump. Meeting again today feels profoundly full circle,” Aviva said.

“I am endlessly grateful for Mrs. Trump’s steadfast support over these painful two years.”