U.S. Air Force veteran Joseph St. Clair is finally back on American soil after enduring six months in a Venezuelan prison, thanks to diplomatic efforts led by President Trump’s envoy, Richard Grenell. The release marks a significant breakthrough in tense U.S.–Venezuela relations.
St. Clair, 33, who served four tours in Afghanistan, was arrested in November 2024 near the Venezuelan-Colombian border while seeking treatment for PTSD. Venezuelan authorities accused him of espionage and detained him in the notorious Rodeo I prison under brutal conditions. In March 2025, the U.S. State Department officially declared him “wrongfully detained.”
His release came during a quiet handoff on the island of Antigua and Barbuda, where Grenell received him on behalf of the Trump administration. Wearing a “USA” sweatshirt and visibly emotional, St. Clair boarded a plane back to Washington the same day. His parents, Scott and Patti St. Clair, expressed overwhelming relief and gratitude, calling their son’s return “a miracle.”
Joe St. Clair is back in America.
I met Venezuelan officials in a neutral country today to negotiate an America First strategy.
This is only possible because @realDonaldTrump puts Americans first. @tsori233 pic.twitter.com/BItEnF9Ngg
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) May 20, 2025
This marks the second major prisoner release brokered by Grenell, who earlier this year facilitated the return of six other Americans held by the Maduro regime. While the Venezuelan government has not confirmed terms of the release, sources say the move is part of a broader effort by Nicolás Maduro to de-escalate tensions with the United States.
In response, the Trump administration has granted Chevron a temporary 60-day extension to operate in Venezuela—a strategic move meant to increase leverage without fully lifting sanctions. Grenell described the arrangement as a “measured, America First approach” that puts U.S. interests and citizens first. However, some within the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have voiced concerns that Maduro is using American hostages as bargaining chips.
Despite internal disagreements, the release of Joseph St. Clair is being viewed as a major diplomatic win. It also shines a spotlight on the estimated half-dozen Americans who still remain imprisoned in Venezuela. Trump officials have vowed that negotiations will continue until every U.S. citizen wrongfully detained abroad is brought home.
For now, St. Clair is focused on reuniting with his family, recovering from his ordeal, and starting the next chapter of his life—finally free.