President Trump’s diplomatic envoy Ric Grenell successfully negotiated the release of U.S. Air Force veteran Joseph St. Clair from wrongful detention in Venezuela, bringing a four-tour Afghanistan War hero home to America after months of clandestine negotiations with the Maduro regime.
Key Takeaways
- Joseph St. Clair, a U.S. Air Force veteran and four-tour Afghanistan War hero, has been freed after being wrongfully detained in Venezuela since November 2024.
- President Trump deployed Ambassador Ric Grenell as a special envoy who met with Venezuelan officials in a neutral country to secure St. Clair’s release.
- St. Clair is the seventh American released from Venezuela since January 2025, demonstrating the Trump administration’s commitment to freeing wrongfully detained Americans.
- The successful negotiation continues President Trump’s strong record of securing the release of Americans held overseas, with at least 37 freed since he took office.
- The St. Clair family expressed overwhelming gratitude to President Trump and his team while voicing solidarity with families of those still detained abroad.
Veteran Freed Through Strategic Diplomacy
In a significant diplomatic victory, President Trump’s administration has secured the release of Joseph St. Clair, a U.S. Air Force veteran who was wrongfully detained in Venezuela since November 2024. The successful negotiation was led by Richard Grenell, serving as a special presidential envoy, who met with Venezuelan officials in a neutral country to secure St. Clair’s freedom. The veteran had disappeared while receiving PTSD treatment in Colombia, only to later be discovered in the custody of Nicolás Maduro’s regime when St. Clair’s father was informed by the Colombian consulate in February.
Scott and Patti St. Clair, Joseph’s parents, announced their son’s release with profound emotion: “This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it—but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,” said Scott and Patti St. Clair.
Trump’s America First Diplomatic Approach
Ambassador Richard Grenell, who led the negotiation efforts, emphasized the success of President Trump’s approach to international relations. “Joe St. Clair is back in America,” Grenell announced, further explaining, “I met Venezuelan officials in a neutral country today to negotiate an America First strategy. This is only possible because Donald Trump puts Americans first,” said Richard Grenell, special presidential envoy.
The St. Clair family specifically thanked President Trump and key administration officials involved in securing their son’s release, including Ambassador Grenell, Adam Boehler, and Sebastian Gorka. The diplomatic breakthrough is particularly noteworthy given the complex and tense relationship between the United States and Venezuela, where the U.S. government views Maduro as having stolen Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election. Despite these tensions, the Trump administration has prioritized bringing Americans home, demonstrating that effective negotiation can transcend political differences when American lives are at stake.
Great to see the USAF veteran and fellow Texan coming home
Trump Envoy Grenell Gets US Veteran Released From Venezuela https://t.co/lFRCYNVDe9
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) May 20, 2025
Continuing Record of Releasing Detained Americans
St. Clair’s freedom marks another success in President Trump’s consistent efforts to secure the release of Americans detained abroad. Since taking office, the Trump administration has overseen the release of at least 37 Americans from hostage situations across six different countries. St. Clair is the seventh American released from Venezuela this year alone, following the release of six others on January 31, 2025. These accomplishments highlight the administration’s unwavering commitment to prioritizing American citizens regardless of the diplomatic complexities involved.
“We remain in prayer and solidarity with the families of those who are still being held,” said the St. Clairs in their statement, acknowledging that their joy is tempered by awareness of other Americans still detained abroad.
The family has requested privacy during this time as they reunite with their son and begin the process of recovery. While the specific details of the negotiations that led to St. Clair’s release have not been disclosed, the successful outcome demonstrates the effectiveness of the Trump administration’s approach to foreign policy challenges. By focusing on tangible results rather than symbolic gestures, the administration continues to bring Americans home from dangerous situations abroad, fulfilling one of the most fundamental responsibilities of the federal government.
