Trump says Venezuela has started the process of releasing political prisoners

U.S. President Trump says Venezuela has begun releasing political prisoners as a gesture of cooperation, a move he credits to U.S. pressure and calls a step toward peace.

Reuters

January 11, 2026

Trump says Venezuela has started the process of releasing political prisoners

People hold a candlelight vigil outside the Helicoide detention centre, as Venezuela's government begins releasing some detainees, with the freeing of political prisoners marking a move long demanded by human rights groups, international bodies and opposition leaders, in Caracas, Venezuela, January 10, 2026.

Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump said that Venezuela has started releasing their political prisoners on Saturday (January 10).

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Venezuela has started the process, in a BIG WAY, of releasing their political prisoners."

“I hope those prisoners will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done,” Trump added.

The release of hundreds of political prisoners in the South American country is a long-running demand of human rights groups, international bodies and opposition figures, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, who has several close allies imprisoned.

Both Trump and Venezuela's top lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez, the brother of acting President Delcy Rodriguez, have said the releases are a gesture of peace.

Production: Alexandra Sarabia/Reuters