Wife Of American Detained By Taliban Reveals What Biden Told Her In Long-Awaited Call

Anna Corbett, the wife of Ryan Corbett, an American held hostage by the Taliban, expressed her disappointment in an interview. She shared that she doesn’t believe President Joe Biden will bring her husband home before his time as president ends. Ryan has been detained by the Taliban since 2022, and Anna feels let down by the lack of progress.

The White House recently announced that President Biden spoke with the families of Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann, and Mahmoud Habibi, who have all been held by the Taliban. The call was meant to provide an update on efforts to bring them home. However, Anna revealed that this was the first time she had spoken to Biden, despite making 16 trips to Washington, D.C., over the past two and a half years. During their 30-minute call, Biden explained that his administration couldn’t finalize a deal to secure Ryan’s release before the end of his term. This news left Anna heartbroken.

Anna said Biden was polite and gave them time during the call, but hearing that Ryan wouldn’t be coming home was devastating. “We’ve come so far, but now we’re being told it’s not happening,” she said. She also expressed frustration that there seems to be an opportunity to bring Ryan home, but no action has been taken. “It feels like the administration is haunted by Afghanistan and not taking the steps needed,” she added.

When asked for clarification, the White House referred to a statement that reaffirmed their commitment to bringing home Americans held hostage or detained abroad. Still, Anna feels the efforts have not been enough.

Anna shared how hard these 885 days of wrongful detainment have been for her and her family. She explained that even though they’ve adjusted to life without Ryan, it’s getting harder, not easier. “We miss him so much every day,” she said.

In a last effort to push for her husband’s release, Anna flew to Palm Beach, Florida, to try meeting President-elect Donald Trump. She decided to go after Trump said he would be briefed on the Americans held hostage and mentioned reports of a potential deal. Anna felt hopeful hearing this and thought Trump, being known for making deals, might prioritize bringing Ryan home. Since arriving in Palm Beach, she has had positive interactions with Trump’s team and feels her efforts are finally being taken seriously. Her congresswoman, Claudia Tenney, has also supported her trip and advocacy.

Ryan Corbett, a U.S. citizen from New York, lived in Afghanistan with his family from 2010 to 2021. He worked on community projects through NGOs and later started a small business offering microloans. After the Taliban took over in 2021, Ryan and his family left the country. However, he decided to return in 2022 to renew his business visa and visit his staff. Tragically, during this visit, he was captured by the Taliban in August 2022.

The Biden administration has been negotiating with the Taliban since mid-2022 to bring Ryan and other Americans home. In November, the U.S. proposed a deal to exchange the three hostages for Muhammad Rahim al Afghani, a man accused of working with al Qaeda. The Taliban responded with a counteroffer, asking for Rahim and two others in exchange for Ryan and George Glezmann. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in December that Biden has not made a final decision on the deal.

Anna also revealed that she gets brief phone calls with Ryan, arranged by the U.S. government and the Qataris. She last spoke to him on Christmas Day and shared that Ryan remains hopeful, despite the long separation. “We feel a huge gap in our family without him,” Anna said. “It’s not getting easier—we miss him more every day.”

Anna remains determined to bring her husband home and hopes her efforts in Palm Beach will lead to progress. “I’m thankful that since arriving here, it feels like we’re finally being prioritized after two and a half years of waiting,” she said.