Related videos:
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, expressed his gratitude to the leadership in Venezuela for what he described as a significant advance in the release of political prisoners, as part of the ongoing process following the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the change of command in Caracas.
Through a message posted on his social network Truth Social, Trump thanked Venezuelan leaders, including current president Delcy Rodríguez and Diosdado Cabello, for accepting "this powerful humanitarian gesture."
Although the president did not provide specific figures in his announcement, it comes after official Venezuelan statements—such as those from the Parliament and local media—regarding the implementation of multiple releases, a number that has been mentioned as 808 releases by PSUV figures in state media in some instances.
In other external sources, however, civil organizations and NGOs have pointed out that only a significantly smaller number of releases have actually taken place, with still hundreds of political prisoners remaining behind bars.
Trump's statement was also interpreted by some opposition sectors as a way to highlight the influence of the United States in the process. In the past, the president has insisted that the prisoners who have been released should remember “the luck they have had in that the United States intervened and did what had to be done,” a comment that included a warning that “if they forget, it will not be good for them.”
Trump's position occurs in a context of heightened diplomatic tensions between Washington and Caracas, characterized by disputes over the recognition of Venezuelan leadership, economic sanctions, and human rights claims.
Some U.S. spokespersons have celebrated the release of prisoners as a step toward pacification and bilateral dialogue, while critics warn about the need for a broader and more transparent process to ensure justice and genuine political openness in Venezuela.
The situation of political prisoners in that country continues to be a subject of debate: while the Venezuelan government speaks of humanitarian gestures aimed at "peace" and cooperation, human rights organizations argue that the majority of those considered detained for political reasons have still not been released, and that the releases have been gradual and limited.
Filed under: