State Department warns US citizens to leave Venezuela

U.S. forces boarded another Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the Caribbean on Friday, according to U.S. Southern Command.

This is the fifth oil tanker to be seized by the United States and the third in the last three days.

"Early this morning, the [U.S. Coast Guard] executed a boarding and seizure of the Motor Tanker Olina in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea. As another 'ghost fleet' tanker ship suspected of carrying embargoed oil, this vessel had departed Venezuela attempting to evade U.S. forces," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X.

"The ghost fleets will not outrun justice. They will not hide under false claims of nationality. The Coast Guard will seize sanctioned oil tankers, enforce U.S. and international law, and eliminate these funding streams for illicit activity including narco-terrorism," Noem wrote.

The U.S. Coast Guard is in the lead with support being provided by the U.S. military, sources told ABC News.

-ABC News’ Luis Martinez

President Trump called the release of several political prisoners a "very important and smart gesture," and that a "previously expected second Wave of Attacks" has been canceled because of this decision.

Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of "Seeking Peace," Trump said on Truth Social Friday morning.

Two prominent Venezuelan opposition politicians, six Spanish nationals, and two Colombian nationals will be released by Venezuelan authorities Thursday, the Spanish president’s office and the Venezuelan Communication Ministry confirmed to ABC News on Thursday.

"This is a very important and smart gesture. The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure,” Trump wrote.

“Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes,” he continued.

Echoing the comments he made to Fox News' Sean Hannity, Trump said that "at least 100 billion dollars will be invested by big oil." His remarks come as he prepares to meet with oil executives at the White House Friday afternoon.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

President Donald Trump said he will be meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the White House "next week sometime."

"Well, I understand she's coming in next week sometime, and I look forward to saying hello to her," Trump said in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity on Thursday.

Trump also touted his relationship with the rebuilding Venezuelan government, reiterating his efforts to dominate the region's oil infrastructure.

"We're going to rebuild the oil and the oil infrastructure, we'll be in charge of it," Trump said. "It's going to do great, make a lot of money, and we're going to take it from there, but we're going to rebuild the country. And ultimately, you're going to have elections."

Trump also took responsibility for the release of political prisoners from Venezuela after the National Assembly said releases are set to take place immediately.

"We asked them to do that, and they've been great. They really have been. I mean, we-- everything we've wanted, they've given us," Trump said.

Two prominent Venezuelan opposition politicians, five Spanish nationals, one dual Spanish-Venezuelan national and two Colombian nationals will be released by Venezuelan authorities Thursday, Venezuelan and Spanish officials confirmed to ABC News.

One of the prisoners being freed is Juan Pablo Guanipa, a Venezuelan opposition politician who served as the coordinator of the political party Justice First during the 2000s.

Enrique Marquez is also a Venezuelan opposition politician who was a vocal critic of the Maduro regime. He ran as an independent presidential candidate in the July 2024 elections.

Rafael Tudares is a lawyer and the son-in-law of opposition presidential candidate Edmund Gonzalez Urrutia, who the opposition party says defeated Maduro in the disputed 2024 election.

The names of the Venezuelan and Colombian nationals who will be released, according to the Venezuelan Communication Ministry:

• Juan Pablo Guanipa
• Enrique Marquez
• Rafael Tudares
• Juan Caguaripano

The names of the Spanish nationals who will be released, according to the Spanish president’s office:

• Ernesto Gorbe -- detained in December 2024
• Miguel Moreno, journalist -- detained in June 2025
• Rocio San Miguel, lawyer and NGO worker -- detained in February 2024
• Sofia Sahagún, a family member of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado — detained in October 2024
• Andres Martinez Adasme, accused of attempting to assassinate Maduro -- detained in September 2024

-ABC News' Aicha El Hammar