State Department Briefing: American Ksenia Karelina Returns from Russian Detention as China Tariffs Rise

Name: "State Department Briefing: American Ksenia Karelina Returns from Russian Detention as China Tariffs Rise"
Uploaded: 2025-04-10
Duration: 36 min 28 s
Description: "Spokesperson Tammy Bruce announces that American Ksenia Karelina is on her way home after more than a year detained in Russia, and briefs reporters on the increased U.S. tariff on Chinese goods and Secretary Rubio's message on the Santo Domingo nightclub tragedy, according to the U.S. Department of State."

April 10, 2025 · U.S. Department of State · 0:36:28

Embedded from the source channel — never re-uploaded. Watch on YouTube

What happened

Spokesperson Tammy Bruce opened the April 10, 2025 department briefing by announcing that American Ksenia Karelina was on her way back to the United States after being detained in Russia for more than a year, according to the Department of State’s recording. Bruce said President Trump’s team had engaged with Russia on Karelina’s case at his request, and that Secretary Rubio, Special Envoy Witkoff, CIA Director Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Waltz and Special Envoy Boehler had mobilized their teams to bring her home; she thanked the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its support enabling the exchange, as she described the release. She added that the department had not forgotten other Americans unjustly detained in Russia, naming Stephen Hubbard, as she stated the department’s position.

Turning to trade, Bruce said more than 75 countries had recognized the benefit of working with the United States and that many negotiations were underway following the President’s tariff actions, as she stated the count. She said China’s decision to retaliate reflected decades of aggressive and unfair trade policies and that the United States tariff on all goods from China had again increased in response, as she presented the administration’s position.

Bruce also shared a message from Secretary Rubio to the people of the Dominican Republic expressing unity in prayer after the Jet Set nightclub tragedy in Santo Domingo, which she noted had killed at least one U.S. citizen and U.S. legal permanent residents, and saying the United States stands ready to support its Dominican allies, as the message stated. The briefing then opened to reporters’ questions.

Why it matters

A detainee’s homecoming leads this briefing — Karelina’s release credited to a five-official mobilization and UAE support — followed by the administration’s day-after account of its tariff escalation against China.

Sources: U.S. Department of State, “Department of State Press Briefing - April 10, 2025”, 2025-04-10 (official upload, embedded above; published 2025-04-10). Transcript via Supadata (private research store, paraphrased and attributed, not republished). All figures and characterizations as stated by the speakers.