Six Americans who had been detained in Venezuela were freed after a meeting between President Nicolás Maduro and a senior Trump administration official, Richard Grenell, on Friday.
Grenell, appointed as an envoy for special missions by US President Donald Trump, shared a photo on social media showing himself with the released Americans aboard an aircraft.
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“We are wheels up and headed home with these 6 American citizens. They just spoke to @realDonaldTrump and they couldn’t stop thanking him”, Grenell wrote in the shared post.
The meeting was part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to secure the release of detained US citizens and address migration issues with Venezuela.
Grenell’s visit marked a significant shift, as it came as a surprise to many, with some Venezuelans expecting Trump to continue his “maximum pressure” campaign against Maduro.
The focus of the mission, however, was on deporting Venezuelan criminals from the US back to their home country and ensuring the return of detained Americans, as outlined by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The US has been working to deport Venezuelans, particularly members of criminal groups, back to Venezuela.
The visit also comes amid heightened tensions in Venezuela, where Maduro was recently sworn in for a third term despite disputed election results. The US does not recognise Maduro’s victory and has expressed concerns over the legitimacy of his government.
While Grenell’s meeting with Maduro was part of a specific diplomatic effort, some Republicans criticized it, fearing that it could legitimize Maduro’s rule.
However, the Trump administration emphasised that the release of the detained Americans was a critical priority.