American Missionary Josh Holt, held by Venezuela without trial on weapons charges since 2016, returned home with his wife on Saturday (May 26) after the South American country’s socialist government unexpectedly released them.

They were welcomed to the White House by U.S. President Donald Trump, who told holt he had been “incredibly brave.”

The freeing of the Mormon missionary from Utah came despite deepening U.S. Venezuelan tensions that in the last week saw tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, Washington’s refusal to recognize the May 20 re-election of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and the imposition of new U.S. sanctions on Caracas.

Holt, who was arrested in June 2016 while he was in the country for his wedding to his Venezuela-born wife, said he was “overwhelmed” to be back home after two very difficult years.

Tags: U.S. Missionary, U.S. President Donald Trump, Venezuela