President Trump's Special Envoy for Special Missions, former Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell secured freedom for 6 Americans following a meeting with President Maduro in Venezuela.
"Grenell met with Maduro Friday to demand he accept deported criminals and free U.S. hostages held in Venezuela."
"We can now announce more great news from our Venezuela diplomatic mission yesterday: Venezuela has agreed to take back all the illegal immigrants in the U.S. from Venezuela - and pay for it! Thanks to @realDonaldTrump!"
We can now announce more great news from our Venezuela diplomatic mission yesterday:
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) February 1, 2025
Venezuela has agreed to take back all the illegal immigrants in the U.S. from Venezuela - and pay for it! Thanks to @realDonaldTrump! pic.twitter.com/e9LJnw22TF
We are home. 🇺🇸
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) February 1, 2025
God bless these Americans. pic.twitter.com/L36mNkvEom
In a post to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Grenell wrote: "It is not lost on me that most of the DC media failed to tell the truth about their partnership with the Biden Regime."
He continued, "Why else would they not criticize the failure of the Biden Administration to even visit Americans in prison in Venezuela? The diplomatic standard is a wellness check, at least."
"These 6 Americans had ZERO help from Joe Biden, Anthony Blinken or Jake Sullivan. Zero. Donald Trump freed them on Day 11."
It is not lost on me that most of the DC media failed to tell the truth about their partnership with the Biden Regime.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) February 1, 2025
Why else would they not criticize the failure of the Biden Administration to even visit Americans in prison in Venezuela?
The diplomatic standard is a… pic.twitter.com/k3Mr5MFET2
Then on Sunday following a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President of Panama José Raúl Mulino said he would not renew Panama's agreement with China—that "contributed to China's Belt and Road initiative, under which the Asian country expanded investment in Panama during previous administrations."
"Mulino said he would review agreements involving China and Chinese businesses, and announced further cooperation with the U.S. on migration, but reiterated that his country's sovereignty over the world's second busiest waterway is not up for discussion."
BREAKING: The President of Panama just terminated Panama's agreement with China immediately after meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
— George (@BehizyTweets) February 2, 2025
"I believe that this visit opens a way to build a new stage of relations, that is how I see it, that is how I felt it on the part of… pic.twitter.com/UxNXFMExCS
Simon Lewis and Elida Moreno of Reuters reported: "Rubio delivered a message from Trump that China's presence - through a Hong-Kong based company operating two ports near the canal's entrances - was a threat to the waterway and a violation of the U.S.-Panama treaty, the U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
"Secretary Rubio made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty," Bruce said.
Rubio later visited the Miraflores Locks through which ships pass between the Pacific and the canal. Canal officials briefed Rubio as a Panamanian-flagged LPG carrier entered a lock from the canal to descend to the Pacific.
Mulino also announced that a memorandum of understanding signed in July with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security could be expanded so Venezuelans, Colombians and Ecuadoreans can be returned from the perilous Darien Gap at U.S. cost, through an airstrip in Panama.
The Darien Gap connects Colombia with the Central American nation of Panama and increasing numbers of migrants were making the journey north to reach the United States.
Rubio has ordered the State Department to put migration issues at the center of its diplomacy with countries in the region. Officials have said Rubio will use the trip to smooth the acceptance of U.S. deportation flights to the region."