Trump Claims U.S. Pressure Forced Venezuela to Free Political Prisoners

In a bold Truth Social post, President Donald Trump declared that Venezuela has started freeing political prisoners "in a big way" thanks to decisive United States action against the country's leadership. He stated that the releases are a direct result of recent American pressure, including the high-profile capture of Nicolás Maduro last weekend. Trump emphasized that the freed individuals should consider themselves fortunate that the United States intervened when it did.

The former president went further, urging the released prisoners to "never forget" America's role in their liberation. He added a stern warning, saying that forgetting the U.S. contribution "will not be good for them." The remarks underscore Trump's belief that his administration's tough stance forced the Venezuelan government into making concessions it had long resisted.

Venezuela's authorities announced Thursday that they would release a substantial number of detainees as part of a broader effort to promote national peace and reconciliation. While the government has not provided an official list or total figure, the move comes amid intense international scrutiny following the controversial 2024 presidential election and the subsequent detention of opposition figures. Rights organizations continue to press for complete transparency regarding the process.

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According to Foro Penal, a respected Venezuelan human rights group monitoring political detentions, only 16 individuals classified as political prisoners had been released as of Saturday night. The organization reports that 804 such prisoners remain behind bars. Several high-profile opposition members, including former lawmaker Freddy Superlano, María Corina Machado's lawyer Perkins Rocha, ex-governor Juan Pablo Guanipa, and Rafael Tudares—the son-in-law of 2024 opposition candidate Edmundo González—continue to be held in custody with no immediate indication of their release.

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