Trump Calls Off Diplomatic Outreach to Venezuela NYT | Top Stories Julian E. Barnes, Tyler Pager and Maria Abi-Habib 7 October 2025 at 06:17 The move paves the way for a possible military escalation against drug traffickers or the government of Nicolás Maduro. © Eric Lee/The New York TimesRichard Grenell, a special presidential envoy and executive director of the Kennedy Center, had been leading negotiations with Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, and other top Venezuelan officials.