Trump Meets With Freed Russian-American Ballerina

Trump welcomed a dual U.S.–Russian citizen whose freedom he secured in an exchange last month.

Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka takes a picture of U.S.-Russian ballet dancer Ksenia Karelina and her boyfriend South African boxer Chris van Heerden at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, following Karelina's release from Russia, on April 10, 2025. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

A Russian American ballerina freed last month from a prison in Russia as part of a prisoner exchange, Ksenia Karelina, visited the White House on Monday and met with President Donald Trump.

The 33-year-old dual citizen’s visit underscores the delicate balance of negotiations with Moscow amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.