President Trump says Venezuela has begun releasing a substantial number of political prisoners following swift U.S. action that removed Nicolás Maduro from power, a development the White House frames as evidence that firmness and diplomacy can produce results.
President Trump announced on Truth Social that Venezuela is releasing political prisoners less than two weeks after the Trump administration removed Nicolás Maduro. The post framed the releases as a sign of cooperation between the two countries and an opening for reconstruction of Venezuela’s energy infrastructure. This turn of events was presented as both a diplomatic breakthrough and a validation of a tougher U.S. posture toward hostile regimes.
The President added that the apparent cooperation prompted him to cancel a previously planned “second wave” of attacks on Venezuela, while keeping naval assets positioned for safety and security. He also touted prospective private investment in Venezuela’s oil and gas sector as part of rebuilding efforts. That mix of pressure and the promise of economic engagement is central to how his team describes the outcome.
Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of “Seeking Peace.” This is a very important and smart gesture. The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure. Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes. At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
Venezuela has long been accused of jailing opponents of the regime, and human rights groups estimate there could be as many as 1,000 political detainees. Many of those arrested were detained after protests over the 2024 election, which critics say Maduro stole. The releases give families immediate relief but also raise questions about who is still at risk and what guarantees exist for lasting rule-of-law improvements.
Former opposition candidate Enrique Márquez was among those released from prison, according to an opposition statement. “It’s all over now,” Márquez said in a video taken by a local journalist who accompanied him and his wife, as well as another opposition member Biagio Pilieri, who was also released.
Spain’s foreign ministry also confirmed the release of five Spanish nationals, one of them a citizen with dual nationality, who it said were “preparing to travel to Spain with assistance from our embassy in Caracas”. The ministry called the development “a positive step in the new phase Venezuela is entering”.
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Venezuela’s opposition leader, María Corina Machado, hailed the releases, saying they showed that “injustice” would not prevail in the country. “This is an important day because it shows what we have always known: that injustice will not last forever and that truth, although it be wounded, ends up finding its way,” she said in an audio message published on social media.
Observers note the releases do not erase the broader problems inside Venezuela: reports of pro-regime agitators targeting Trump supporters and efforts to suppress celebrations of Maduro’s ouster suggest pockets of resistance remain. Still, officials in Washington are casting the prisoner frees as a measurable win for a policy that pairs decisive action with diplomatic openings. For the administration, the story is a case study in projecting strength to secure both security and humanitarian gains.
“This is what ‘peace through strength’ looks like in action,” wrote one social media user.
Supporters in the Republican orbit argue the episode shows clear benefits when the United States leads with both resolve and the willingness to negotiate the terms of post-conflict reconstruction. They view the commitment of large-scale private investment as proof that economic leverage can be an instrument of stabilization. At the same time, human rights organizations and opposition leaders will press for transparency and durable safeguards for those just freed.
The situation in Venezuela remains fragile, and many political prisoners are likely still unaccounted for. What the administration calls a diplomatic opening now requires close monitoring to ensure releases are permanent and that returned civil liberties are meaningful. For supporters of the current U.S. approach, this moment is evidence that firm policy can create real, short-term results on the ground.
