Trump Envoy Richard Grenell Wins Freedom of Six Americans After Huddling with Maduro in Venezuela

Richard Grenell, the former special missions envoy under the Trump administration, announced on social media Friday night that six Americans held in Venezuela are coming home after he met with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.

Grenell said on X, formerly Twitter, "They just spoke to @realDonaldTrump and couldn't stop thanking him." He did not identify the six detainees, but four of them were seen wearing light-blue Venezuelan prison uniforms.

At least nine Americans are known to be detained in Venezuela, where the government of Maduro has accused most of them of terrorism or being "mercenaries."

In an earlier development, Mauricio Claver-Carone, U.S. Special Envoy for Latin America, told the media in a telephone call Tuesday afternoon that there is urgency about the situation since "American hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally." Clarifying, too, that "not as result of any negotiation or quid pro quo or any type" since President Trump made it concrete no exchange shall take place with regard to freedom.

The move comes as tensions are rising between the U.S. and Venezuela, with the Trump administration ratcheting up sanctions against Maduro's regime.