Venezuelan Political Prisoners Release Sparks Outrage

The son of a jailed Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Pablo Guanipa, has warned US President Donald Trump not to be 'fooled' by the Venezuelan government's pledge to release political prisoners. The government announced it would release detainees considered political prisoners as a 'goodwill gesture', but so far, only about 40 releases have been confirmed out of over 800. The Venezuelan government claims over 100 prisoners have been released. Relatives of those still behind bars are expressing frustration and families are keeping vigil outside El Helicoide prison.

US President Donald Trump is set to meet Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House on Thursday. The meeting comes after US forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. Trump has backed Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice-president, as Venezuela's interim president, rather than Machado, despite her coalition claiming victory in the 2024 elections. Machado plans to thank Trump for the action against Maduro and had offered to give him her Nobel Peace Prize, although the Nobel Committee clarified it was not transferable. The US has maintained that Rodríguez has been cooperative with them, while Machado has criticized Rodríguez as being responsible for repression in Venezuela.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is set to meet with President Trump at the White House. Machado, a 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has praised Trump and considered giving him her award. Trump has not endorsed Machado to lead Venezuela after a U.S. military operation to remove former President Nicolás Maduro. Trump has expressed frustration that he wasn't the Nobel Peace Prize recipient, citing his efforts to settle global conflicts. Machado met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican to ask for his help in releasing hundreds of political prisoners in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government has released only 49 political prisoners out of over 800 considered arbitrarily detained, sparking outrage and concern among families and human rights organizations. The release is part of a review of cases initiated by former President Nicolás Maduro and continued by acting President Delcy Rodríguez. Families are demanding proof of life for their loved ones still in detention, with some camping outside prisons and protesting. Human rights groups have criticized the government for lack of transparency and called for the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained individuals.