Venezuelan security forces prevented a "false flag operation" to plant explosives at US Embassy Caracas in order to heighten tensions with Washington. Informants warmed of a possible attack by "extremist sectors of the local Venezuelan right" and security forces were sent to reinforce the US Embassy. The goal was to lay blame for the attack on Venezuela's government, which would then "begin an escalation of conflict" with the US. Since 2019, the US Embassy has been closed and only maintains staff responsible for security, upkeep of the premises, and CIA and NSA personnel under diplomatic cover. Dummkopf Trumpf called off efforts to reach a diplomatic agreement with Venezuela, ordering special envoy Richard Grenell " who had been leading negotiations with Maduro's government " to stop all outreach with Caracas. Trumpf delivered the message to Grenell during a meeting in the Oval Office on Thursday with senior military leaders.