Melania Trump meets with freed American-Israeli hostage whose story she features in her new film

WASHINGTON (AP) — Melania Trump on Wednesday met with a freed American-Israeli hostage whose plight she featured in her new film, which includes footage from a meeting last year with the man's wife.

Keith and Aviva Siegel were among some 251 people taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people.

Keith Siegel was held for 484 days until he was released in February 2025 under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Israel shortly after Donald Trump began his second term as president. His wife was held for 51 days before she was freed in November 2023 under a previous ceasefire.

Melania Trump on Wednesday recounted the “emotional meeting” she had with Aviva Siegel in New York in January 2025, just before Trump took office again.

“After Aviva was freed, she called me, wanted to see me and we set up a meeting in New York," the first lady said as she sat between the Siegels in the White House Blue Room. “It was emotional meeting, and it is captured on camera and available to see in my film, ‘Melania.’"

She said Aviva Siegel gave her two of Keith Siegel's books and she gave them to Donald Trump when she got home and told him about the situation. “I know he was fighting for all of the hostages and, as we know now, all of the hostages are free and home with the families.”

“Aviva was a warrior. She is a warrior. She was fighting very hard for Keith, and I know he suffered a lot," Melania Trump said before she turned to address him. “I'm happy to see you healthy and home with your children, your grandchildren, with your family.”

Asked by a reporter if it was appropriate for her to use an official White House event to promote the reported $40 million, Amazon-funded documentary, the first lady said she wasn’t doing that.

“This is not promotion,” Melania Trump said. “We are here celebrating the release of the hostages, of Aviva and Keith. They were in Washington, D.C., 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. It’s nothing to do with promotion.”

Keith Siegel thanked the president and first lady, and he and his wife complimented Melania Trump on the documentary, which was released last week. It chronicles her life in the 20 days leading up to Trump's second inauguration.

“I want to thank you for being a caring, compassionate person and for supporting and helping Aviva during those difficult days, and you helped her enormously, in many ways,” he said. “I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to say that to you in person, sitting next to you.”

Aviva Siegel told the first lady their meeting “gave me so much hope, and I could feel your heart with me.”

Melania Trump had not publicly disclosed the meeting with Aviva Siegel until the documentary opened in theaters last Friday. It includes scenes of the first lady comforting Aviva Siegel as she expresses concern for her husband and starts to cry.

Melania Trump promised to pray for Keith and said in the film, “I will always use my influence and power to fight for those in need.” She takes credit for helping earn his release.

At the end of the film, a series of title cards lists the accomplishments from her first year back as first lady, and says: “Melania Trump played a key role in securing the release of Keith Siegel after 484 days as a hostage in Gaza, just 12 days after the inauguration."

First lady Melania Trump meets with freed American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel and his wife Aviva at the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

First lady Melania Trump listens as she meets with freed American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel and his wife Aviva at the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

First lady Melania Trump listens as Aviva Siegel, wife of freed American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, speaks at the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

First lady Melania Trump meets with freed American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel at the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge turned to the Bleacher Creatures during their first-inning Roll Call at the New York Yankees' home opener Friday, bent a knee and flexed with both arms in honor of Brett Gardner.

“Still hoping he gets a chance to come back here and share his knowledge with the boys a little bit,” Judge said after his go-ahead, two-run homer in the first inning started the Yankees to an 8-2 win over the Miami Marlins. “He was a big part of this team, his long tenure here as a Yankee, so I always like paying him a little credit. He's tuned into the game and watching.”

Gardner spent his entire big league career with the Yankees from 2008-21, and Judge made his major league debut with New York in 2016. Judge started flexing for Roll Call when playing center field, Gardner's old position. Judge roomed with Gardner in 2017.

“He was a leader. He was a professional. He was a prankster. He was everything that you look for in a guy to lead the team,” Judge said, speaking slowly and choosing his words carefully. “He took me in at a young age when I first got here and he treated me just like everybody else and showed me respect. He taught me a lot of things. It kind of teaches you how to lead a clubhouse. He had a big influence on me not only on the field but inside this clubhouse, just the way he played the game and the way he held everybody to a standard. Very few guys are made like Brett Gardner.”

Gardner has been in the Yankees' thoughts even more since March 2024, when his youngest son died at age 14 during a family vacation in Costa Rica. Authorities determined carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death.

Judge, the team captain, wanted the Yankees to arrive in style after opening 5-1 on their West Coast trip.

“That's Cap, again, setting the tone,” said Ben Rice, who homered and drove in three runs. “Sent us a text late last night saying: `Hey, suits tomorrow.' So everybody was fired up and we were happy to continue that momentum out on the field.”

Trent Grisham reached leading off with the first of 11 walks by Marlins pitchers and Judge drove a slider into the left-field seats against Eury Pérez for a 2-1 lead.

Judge, who had three RBIs, hit a record 20 first-inning home runs last year, when he finished with 53. Three of Judge’s five hits this season have been home runs.

Coming off his third AL MVP award and first batting title, Judge is off to a slow start with a .185 average.

He gave his teammates a scare in the second inning when he was hit below the right wrist by a 98.9 mph fastball from Pérez, one pitch after Grisham's bases-loaded walk.

“I’ve broken my wrist like that, so that’s always the main concern,” Judge said.

Judge missed 45 games after he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City’s Jakob Junis on July 26, 2018.

“Felt like he was probably OK but I tend to jump up a little quicker when it’s to him," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) hits a two-run home run during the first inning of the Yankees' home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) walks back to dugout during the fifth inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) successfully steals second base during the eighth inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees outfielders Cody Bellinger (35), Trent Grisham (12) and Aaron Judge (99) embrace each other after wining a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of the Yankees' home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)