Venezuela releases six American men after Trump’s envoy meets Maduro

Venezuela released six detainees in the United States after talks in Caracas between President Nicolas Maduro and a senior official of the Trump administration.

The release of men was announced on social media by Donald Trump and his special envoy Richard Graln.

Genel – who posted an online photo of the six aboard his plane – said they had spoken on the phone of President Trump to thank him.

Earlier, the White House had called on Venezuela to release the “US hostages” – as well as to agree to receive Venezuelan criminals deported from the United States – or to face the consequences.

Genel did not point to the six men who were seen, dressed in light blue outfits used by the Venezuelan prison system.

“We are upwards and we went home with these 6 American citizens,” they published Genel of X. “They just talked to @realdonaldtrump and couldn’t stop thanks him.”

Trump welcomes this move into a separate post, saying that Genel carries “six hostages at home from Venezuela.”

In January, Caracas announced the capture of a group of mercenaries, which included American citizens.

The state media in Venezuela said the discussions with President Trump’s envoy were respectful.

After the meeting, Maduro said the conversations had a “zero program” and that he was looking for a “new beginning in bilateral relations” with the United States.

However, White House press secretary Carolyn Levitus said earlier on Friday that Genel’s visit did not mean the US recognition of Maduro as Venezuela’s legal leader.

Maduro was a sworn last month for a third term as Venezuela’s president, six months after the challenged elections that the opposition and the international community say he lost.

The official July 2024 election results were widely rejected by the international community, including the United States.