Trump envoy Ric Grenell secures release of American hostages in Venezuela

Renewed respect abroad found the second Trump administration securing the release of another group of hostages from an authoritarian leader.

Under President Joe Biden, diplomacy had included kowtowing to hostile regimes to make swaps like that of the WNBA’s Brittney Griner for Victor Bout, known as the merchant of death. Now, after President Donald Trump had been credited with the release of the Hamas hostages before his inauguration, six American citizens arrived home after their own captivity in Venezuela.

On X Friday evening, Trump’s Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions Ric Grenell posted an image of himself and the freed Americans aboard a plane heading back to the United States with the caption, “We are wheels up and headed home with these 6 American citizens. They just spoke to @realDonaldTrump and they couldn’t stop thanking him.”

The former acting director of national intelligence during the president’s first administration had met with Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro at which point he reportedly warned the leader considered an illegitimate president that the continued detainment of Americans would have consequences, according to The Hill.

It was said that prior to the release, at least 10 American citizens were being held by the South American country with some facing accusations of terrorism or of being “mercenaries,” claims the United States had denied.

“He is there on a special mission, and that special mission is very specific,” explained Mauricio Claver-Carone, White House special envoy for Latin America, during a call with reporters. “All I would do on this call is urge the Maduro government, the Maduro regime in Venezuela, to heed to special envoy Ric Grenell’s message and to his demands and what he puts on the table, because ultimately there will be consequences.”

The releases came only two days after the Trump administration removed protections against deportation from hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans that had been granted by Biden.

In January, the Department of Homeland Security had revoked an 18-month extension of the Temporary Protected Status of about 600,000 Venezuelan nationals, and Claver-Carone had expressed that the deal had included the release of the Americans in addition to Venezuela taking back its “criminals and gangs” like the infamous prison gang Tren de Aragua.

By contrast, when Biden had secured the release of prisoners in Dec. 2023, he had done so through a swap for Alex Saab, who had been arrested in 2020 and extradited to the United States in 2021 over bribery and conspiracy to commit money laundering charges related to an alleged $350 million scheme.

Maduro subsequently appointed Saab to head his regime’s international investment center.

In addition to the photo from the plane, Grenell had shared video of meeting with the hostages with the caption, “Hello. I’m an American diplomat sent by President Trump and I’m here to bring you home,” as well as an image of their arrival stateside.

Reacting to the success from the mission, Trump posted on social media, “Just been informed that we are bringing six hostages home from Venezuela. Thank you to Ric Grenell and my entire staff. Great job!” and “Hostages from Venezuela arrived home last night, in great condition!” as others joined in celebrating another win.

Kevin Haggerty

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles