OPINION:
I’m a father of two from Tenafly, New Jersey, and like any parent, I lie awake at night worrying about my children — their safety at school, their happiness with friends, their readiness for an uncertain world. It’s a primal instinct etched into every mom and dad. We want our children home, safe, surrounded by love. That’s why the story of Edan Alexander, our 21-year-old neighbor and the last living American hostage being held in the Gaza Strip, hits me like a freight train. As a dad, I feel the gut-wrenching anguish of his parents, Yael and Adi. As an American and an adviser to President Trump, I see a mission: Bring Edan home now. It’s not just a moral duty; it’s the “America First” agenda in action, a chance to unite a fractured nation behind a leader who delivers results, not excuses.
Edan is one of us: a local kid with a big heart. Born to Israeli parents, he grew up just blocks away and graduated from Tenafly High School with dreams as big as his smile. He then made a choice few would: enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces to stand up for freedom. On Oct. 7, 2023, while defending a border post against a savage Hamas assault, he was taken hostage. That was over 500 days ago. More than 500 mornings, his parents, Adi and Yael — our neighbors — have woken up to an empty house and a nightmare that won’t end. Every day Edan remains in captivity is an outrage, not just for Tenafly but also for every American who values our own.
Mr. Trump understands this. Since taking office in January, he has drawn a red line in the sand: No American gets left behind — not on his watch. Edan, a U.S. citizen by birth, is at the top of his list. Last week, Mr. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff stood at the White House podium and cut through the noise: “The president wants Hamas to release Edan Alexander to prove they’re serious about negotiations.” That’s not a polite request; it’s a demand backed by the full might of American resolve. Mr. Trump has already signaled there will be hell to pay if Hamas doesn’t comply. I personally know the man, and he doesn’t bluff. This is the same leader who, in his first term, brought home Americans such as Otto Warmbier from North Korea’s clutches. He has a track record. He will do it again.
That’s the heart of “America First.” Our people come first — no exceptions, no apologies. For too long, spineless administrations dithered while Americans suffered. Hostages languished abroad, and families were abandoned at home. Think of the Benghazi debacle, where brave Americans were left to die, or the tepid responses to Iran’s provocations.
Mr. Trump is cut from a different cloth. Bringing Edan back isn’t a win just for our little New Jersey town; it’s a victory for every patriot who believes America should stand tall and protect its own. Here’s the kicker: It’s bigger than politics; it’s a unifier. I’ve talked to folks across the political spectrum, and they all agree: Edan’s return transcends party lines. Picture it: Mr. Trump steps off Marine One, Edan at his side, a young American freed from terror, embracing his parents on U.S. soil. That’s not a partisan moment; it’s an American moment.
The doubters — those hand-wringing elites — whine that it’s too complicated. Geopolitics, ceasefires and diplomatic red tape have Edan caught between a rock and a hard place. Pure nonsense. Mr. Trump has shown he can bulldoze through the noise. He renegotiated trade deals that had economists clutching their pearls. He stared down China and North Korea when others flinched. Hamas knows he is not playing games. They have one shot: Release Edan now or face their demise. Mr. Trump is not here to negotiate with terrorists; he is here to end them. If they don’t return Edan now, Mr. Trump will make sure they regret it. They had better take him seriously.
As a father, I can’t shake the image of my children in Edan’s place — trapped, scared, waiting for someone to rescue them. As an adviser to Mr. Trump, I see the bigger picture: a president who puts America first can turn this local tragedy into a national triumph.
Bringing Edan Alexander home isn’t about just one family in Tenafly. It’s about proving that when America rallies behind a leader like Mr. Trump and puts America first, nothing can stop us. Let’s make it happen. Let’s bring our boy home.
• Jason D. Meister is a former advisory board member of Donald J. Trump for President. Find him on X @jason_meister.
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