WATCH: Trump Greets American Detainees Freed From North Korea

Early on Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump greeted three Americans who were freed from detention in North Korea when they arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Vice President Mike Pence was the first major Trump administration official to arrive at the base with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arriving several minutes later with National Security Adviser John Bolton and Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived several minutes later and was followed by a separate flight carrying the three released American citizens. After the freed detainees arrived, President Trump and the First Lady boarded their flight and spoke with them before they walked out of the plane together to greet the press.

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“This is a special night for these three really great people,” Trump told reporters. “Frankly we didn’t think this was going to happen … it’s a very important thing to all of us to be able to get these three great people out.”

Trump thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for releasing the hostages, adding, “I really think he wants to do something and bring his country into the real world.”

“I think this will be a very big success,” Trump continued. “It’s never been taken this far, there’s never been a relationship like this. Some great things can happen, and that’s what we hope.”