One of President Donald Trump's top aides is reportedly in "hot water" after he took an unapproved trip aboard a jet to pick up an individual who was being held by the Venezuelan government. 

The aide, according to the New York Post, is Ric Grenell. He is the president's special envoy.

Grenell celebrated the return of U.S. Air Force veteran Joe St. Clair on his social media account, but it appears that he may be in some trouble.

Special Envoy @RichardGrenell has successfully negotiated the release of decorated Air Force veteran Joe St. Clair from a Venezuelan jail. NEWSMAX's Sarah Williamson reports. @SarahWNews @realKTMcFarland pic.twitter.com/52nGEDhR8O

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) May 20, 2025

Background

You may have recently seen reports indicating that the Trump administration had managed to obtain the release from a Venezuelan prison of St. Clair.

Stripes.com reports:

St. Clair lost contact with his family while traveling in Colombia near the Venezuelan border in November, said Scott St. Clair, his father and an Army veteran. Joe St. Clair, a former tech sergeant, worked as a linguist in the military from 2010 to 2019. He was among nine Americans being held by Venezuelan authorities at a large federal prison complex near Caracas.

The outlet goes on to report how many, here, in America, called upon the Trump administration to take action to secure St. Clair's release from what they considered a wrongful detainment.

The outlet writes:

At an April event in Georgetown called “Bring Our Families Home,” the St. Clairs and other families called on President Donald Trump and lawmakers to push for the release of their son and other wrongfully detained Americans in Venezuela.

The Trump administration heard these calls and took action, which is why St. Clair is now back home. But, there is more to the story.

Behind Trump's back?

According to the Post's report, Grenell had actually gone "behind Trump's back" to get St. Clare's release.

Per the outlet:

Grenell announced Tuesday that he had flown to Antigua to bring Air Force veteran Joe St. Clair back to the United States, posting a picture of the two winging it back to Washington, DC. But the 58-year-old had gone behind Trump’s back to do so, an informed administration source told The Post, saying: “Grenell blindsided the president and the White House.”

The source is anonymous, and, at the time of this writing, neither Trump nor Grenell has commented on the situation.

The outlet goes on to report:

Insiders believe Grenell’s trip was a Hail Mary attempt to pressure Trump to extend Chevron’s license to import Venezuelan oil — which is set to expire May 27, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Wednesday on X.

Grenell has called such ideas "fake news."