In a high-stakes, last-minute deal, two Americans held captive in Afghanistan were finally freed in exchange for a Taliban prisoner serving a life sentence in the U.S. The swap, years in the making, came down to the wire as President Joe Biden’s term ended and Donald Trump returned to the White House. Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were handed over to U.S. officials early Tuesday, just hours after Trump’s inauguration. In return, the U.S. released Khan Mohammed, a Taliban member convicted in 2008 on narco-terrorism charges. The exchange, facilitated by Qatar, was delayed partly due to bad weather in Washington and Kabul. Some sources suggest the Taliban also wanted Trump to take credit for the deal. The Biden administration had been working on the swap for months, with multiple trips to Doha for negotiations. Despite the success, officials expressed disappointment that two other Americans, George Glezmann and Mahmoud Habibi, weren’t included in the deal. Corbett’s wife, Anna, had previously met with Biden and Trump’s team, pleading for her husband’s release. She was invited to Trump’s inauguration, where she thanked both administrations and the Qatari government for their efforts. Corbett, who had lived in Afghanistan for over a decade, was detained in 2022 while trying to renew his business visa. His family described his declining health and urged his swift return. McKenty’s situation remains unclear, as officials have shared few details about his case. The prisoner exchange marks one of the final moves of the Biden administration, which has faced criticism over its handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Biden has argued that the withdrawal was forced by a deal Trump struck with the Taliban in 2020. This swap is part of a broader effort to free Americans detained abroad. Under Biden, 80 Americans have been released from wrongful detention worldwide. However, the fight continues for those still held, including Glezmann and Habibi, whose families are pushing for their safe return. The deal underscores the complexities of negotiating with the Taliban, who have yet to acknowledge holding Habibi. As the U.S. navigates these challenges, the focus remains on bringing all unjustly detained Americans home.