Trump Scraps Planned Second Wave of Venezuela Strikes After Prisoner Release

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

President Donald Trump claimed to have cancelled a planned second “wave of attacks” on Venezuela in response to the Caracas government’s “smart gesture” of releasing political detainees on Friday.

The announcement came almost a week after the Delta Force operation that saw Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro captured in a shocking raid. Since then, his former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, has been made the country’s acting president.

Rodríguez confirmed the release of several political detainees on Friday, including former opposition presidential candidate Enrique Márquez and activist Biagio Pilieri, in a move she said was designed to “consolidate peace.” Nobel Peace Prize-winning opposition leader María Corina Machado praised the release of the prisoners as an “important day” proving that “injustice” would not prevail in the country.

Taking to Truth Social early on Friday, Trump hailed the action as one of “cooperation” and touted major oil sector engagement, saying that at least $100 billion in investment from “BIG OIL” was in the offing:

Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of “Seeking Peace.” This is a very important and smart gesture. The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure. Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes. At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT

(Screengrab via Truth Social)

The scale of the releases remains unclear, but, according to the Guardian, it is estimated that Venezuela holds between 800 and 1,000 political prisoners, many of whom were detained for participating in protests following the 2024 election, which opposition figures and international observers widely believe was rigged in Maduro’s favor.

Trump’s own claim about holding back strikes comes amidst escalating political fallout in Washington after the Senate advanced a War Powers Resolution on Thursday, with the backing of several Republicans, aimed at restraining the president’s authority to conduct further operations against Venezuela without congressional approval.