00:00This is Stephen Hubbard, who has become a very well-known person.
00:05In fact, you could run for office tomorrow, probably.
00:08Right now, you want to get a little rest.
00:10But he came in from Russia, and I think I can say that you were treated reasonably well.
00:18Yes, and even sympathetically by some of the people.
00:21Some of the guards.
00:22I think that's great.
00:23I think that's great.
00:25And so, as you know, he was somebody I wanted to get back, and I spoke to President Putin,
00:31and they said, we'll let him come back.
00:37We had a plane, and we arrived a couple of days ago, and I know you've been treated very well.
00:42I hope you've been treated very well.
00:44Oh, of course.
00:45But he's been through a lot.
00:46How many years?
00:47How many years?
00:47Four and a half.
00:48Four and a half years.
00:49Well, it's a long time.
00:51That's a long time.
00:52I'm going to Florida.
00:53Do you want to come with me?
00:54I'm going to do another rally in Florida, and they have a big crowd right now in Florida.
01:00Very big for you.
01:01They're waiting for you.
01:03They're going to pay one a ride.
01:04I'll give you a ride on Air Force One.
01:06It was really an honor to help.
01:09It was just spur of the moment.
01:11I said, do me a favor.
01:13Will you let Steve, Steve and Hubbard, let him out?
01:17And they were very nice in that regard, so it's great.
01:21You weren't upset with that.
01:23When you found out about your father coming back, what was your feeling?
01:27Well, to be honest with you, I'd give it up most hope.
01:31And then so when I was...
01:32Do you think you'd never see him again?
01:34No, because there was some talk back in 2025, and then that dwindled down.
01:38And so...
01:39That's when they released another group of people, and he wasn't in the group.
01:44And I even said...
01:44So I lost a little hope, but when we got the word, we were happy.
01:48That's good.
01:48Did you know...
01:49When did you know?
01:50After I spoke with President Putin, I guess, right?
01:53We were working on it.
01:55Back channels.
01:57Yeah, right.
01:58How about you?
01:59Well, the State Department's PHA people.
02:02They kept you in touch.
02:03They told us, yeah.
02:04They didn't tell us what exactly was happening, but they told me to pack my stuff.
02:08Be ready.
02:09Well, we did it at the highest level, that I can tell you, and we're very happy.
02:14And we were talking with Stephen and the family.
02:17These are very nice people.
02:19They wanted me, while I was negotiating, for you, people, stupid people, wanted me to
02:25put sanctions on Russia.
02:27If I would have put sanctions on Russia, your sons would have said, that wasn't good.
02:33The Russians laugh at these sanctions.
02:34I think, you hear that?
02:36They laugh at the sanctions.
02:37They laugh at sanctions.
02:38He does.
02:39It brings disrespect on the country.
02:41How would it have been?
02:42I'm speaking to President Putin.
02:44I'd like to get Stephen Hubbard back, Mr. President.
02:46And, by the way, we're putting sanctions on you right now.
02:50Can you imagine?
02:51You would have been back.
02:53You would have been back.
02:55So, no, it was a great honor to get you out, really.
02:57And it's a great family.
03:00Please, General.
03:00Mr. Hubbard, did you want to tell us anything about the moment we learned that you would be free?
03:08I had heard it many times before, and I reached the state where seeing is believing.
03:14Actions speak louder than words.
03:16But I never trusted what they said.
03:19Only when they started giving me new clothes and leading me to the exit of the prison.
03:26I went out and I saw the car, and I was accompanied by a couple of Russians.
03:31Then I believed.
03:33I finally believed.
03:34I'm on the drive from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
03:38I'm really going somewhere.
03:40Did you think you'd be there for many years?
03:42Yes.
03:43And you thought your father would be there for many years?
03:46I was afraid that we were going to lose him there.
03:48I wouldn't have lasted another year.
03:50You look very healthy to me.
03:52Well, I mean, you have no weight problem.
03:55He looks very good.
03:56He's been bulking up on the boat.
03:57He looks very good to me.
03:58He looks very guilty.
03:58No, but I'm scared.
03:58He looks very guilty.
03:59No, I'm scared.
03:59You
