A State Department official said Venezuela must take back “Venezuelan criminals and gangs” and release American “hostages” immediately.

The visit came as a shock to many Venezuelans who hoped that Trump would continue the “maximum pressure” campaign he pursued against the authoritarian Venezuelan leader during his first term.

U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Richard Grenell said on Friday he was headed back to the United States with six American citizens, a surprise development after he met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas.