A proposed deal to secure the release of American citizens and political prisoners held in Venezuela fell apart after conflicting negotiations were conducted by two top Trump administration officials, according to a report by The New York Times.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Richard Grenell, former ambassador and Trump’s special envoy for Venezuela, reportedly pursued separate strategies—both involving the same Venezuelan official, Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly—without coordination. The result: both plans collapsed, leaving dozens of Americans and Venezuelan dissidents still imprisoned and raising questions about internal dysfunction at the highest levels of the administration.
In a statement attempting to downplay the internal rift, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted there was “no fraction of division” within the administration. “The president has one team, and everyone knows he is the ultimate decision maker,” she said.
Two Plans, One Breakdown
Rubio’s proposed deal reportedly included the release of several Americans, including Lucas Hunter and Jonathan Pagan Gonzalez, as well as dozens of Venezuelan political prisoners detained during protests following last year’s disputed Venezuelan election. In return, Rubio’s team offered to repatriate roughly 250 Venezuelan nationals who had been deported to El Salvador.
At the same time, Grenell had been working independently on a separate plan that aimed to secure the release of around 80 Venezuelan political prisoners and a few Americans. In exchange, he proposed allowing Chevron to continue oil operations in Venezuela, a move that would provide vital revenue to the country’s socialist regime.
According to officials, Grenell believed he had President Trump’s backing for his proposal—but Trump reportedly had not signed off on the deal, adding to the confusion.
The lack of coordination came to a head in late May, just before a planned exchange by the State Department. The effort unraveled when Grenell pushed ahead with his own plan to secure the release of Air Force veteran Joseph St. Clair. Grenell personally flew to Caracas to retrieve St. Clair, echoing a similar mission in January when six other Americans were brought home.
Going forward, Rubio has reportedly been designated the administration’s lead on Venezuela-related prisoner negotiations.
Rubio’s Expanding Portfolio
Rubio’s responsibility in Venezuela negotiations adds to an already long list of roles within the Trump administration. In addition to serving as secretary of state, Rubio is also acting head of USAID, interim national security adviser, and acting archivist of the National Archives.
Families Voice Frustration
Families of Americans still detained in Venezuela expressed anger and dismay over the miscommunication.
“The sense that we parents had was that you had various people talking, but they weren’t working together — one negotiator would say one thing, and another would say something else,” said Petra Castañeda, whose son Wilbert, a 37-year-old Navy SEAL, has been held since last year. “You would think they would be duly coordinated.”
The Telegraph reached out to both the State Department and Grenell for comment. A source close to Grenell strongly denied The New York Times report, calling it “b——-” and denying that there were competing negotiations.
“The idea that Donald Trump would agree to exchange 250 Venezuelan gang members for five Americans just isn’t true,” the source said. They also claimed Grenell backed away from the plan once he learned of Rubio’s involvement.
