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Andrew Brunson, center left, and his wife Norine, arrive at Adnan Menderes airport for a flight to Germany after his release after his trial in Izmir, Turkey. A Turkish court on Friday sentenced an American pastor for terrorism and released him from his home. arrested and allowed him to leave Turkey in order to dispel tensions between Turkey and the United States. (Emre Tazegul / AP)
Andrew Brunson, the American pastor who was released Friday after being held in a Turkish jail for nearly two years, is scheduled to arrive in the United States on Saturday around noon to go to the White House with President Trump.
Brunson's release was a top priority for evangelical Christians and Trump celebrates the pastor's return as a diplomatic coup of his administration. The president plans to host Brunson, 50, in the Oval Office at 2:30 pm, before traveling to Kentucky for a campaign rally.
Asset tweeted Saturday morning, "Pastor Andrew Brunson, released by Turkey, will be with me at the Oval Office at 2:30 pm (this afternoon). It will be wonderful to see him and meet him. He is a great Christian who has had such a difficult experience. I would like to thank the president @RT_Erdogan for his help! "
Trump insisted that he made no concessions to Turkish President Recep Erdogan for the release of Brunson, who had been found guilty by a Turkish court of having links to terrorism.
"There was NO transaction with Turkey for the release and return of Pastor Andrew Brunson," Trump tweeted. "I do not do business for the hostages. The United States, however, expressed great satisfaction, which will translate into good and perhaps good relations between the United States and Turkey! "
Brunson, arrested on charges of spying and terrorism, was sentenced Friday by a Turkish court, but his sentence was cut short, paving the way for his release. He was taken to a US military hospital in Germany on Friday night, where he was examined by a doctor.
At a campaign rally on Friday night in Lebanon, Ohio, Trump hailed Brunson's release as a triumph, announcing to the delirious crowd that the pastor was "free from prison" and that He would come to Washington.
"We're going to say hello to him," said Trump.
When Brunson landed at night in Germany, Richard Grenell, US Ambassador to Germany, presented him with an American flag. The pastor carried it to his face and kissed it.
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