Ric Grenell to Detainees: 'I'm Here to Take You Home'

Ric Grenell, President Donald Trump's envoy for special missions, said Friday night the six Americans held hostage by Venezuela who returned with him to the U.S. after his trip to Caracas earlier in the day "didn't know what was happening."

"Super emotional day. They didn't know what was happening," Grenell said, according to Newsmax. "They didn't know where they were going. I got to greet them and say, 'Hi. I'm an American diplomat sent by Donald Trump and I'm here to take you home.' "

Grenell, who was the U.S. ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence in Trump's first administration, and the president announced the release of the six men, whose identities have not been released, on social media.

"We are wheels up and headed home with these 6 American citizens," Grenell wrote in a post on X, with a photo showing him and the men aboard an aircraft. "They just spoke to @realDonaldTrump and they couldn't stop thanking him."

The men in the photo were smiling and dressed in light blue outfits like the ones used by Venezuela's prison system.

"Just been informed that we are bringing six hostages home from Venezuela," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Thank you to Ric Grenell and my entire staff. Great job!"

Grenell traveled to Caracas to demand that Maduro's government accept the unconditional return of Venezuelans deported from the U.S. or face consequences. He and Maduro met at the Miraflores presidential palace in one of the first known meetings by the second Trump administration with a government it considers hostile.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier Friday that Grenell would demand Caracas allow repatriation flights for members of the Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan criminal gang Trump has designated a terrorist group.

Material from Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.