Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said he discussed Venezuela with oil companies "before and after" the operation and claimed they "want to go in so badly," describing the country’s infrastructure as "rusty" and "rotten."
The story indicates just how central oil is to Trump’s high-stakes decision to confront the Maduro regime — an enterprise the administration is framing as both a national security and economic reset for the Western Hemisphere.
At Mar-a-Lago after the operation, Trump argued that restoring Venezuelan production could create jobs, generate wealth, and help stabilize a country that has suffered under socialist misrule.
"We are going to be taking a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground," Trump said, describing a plan for major U.S. firms to repair "badly broken infrastructure" and "start making money for the country," The Journal reported.
The White House says Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are leading outreach to energy executives.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said Trump is eager to work with American firms on investments and opportunities as Venezuela transitions away from the Maduro era.
The administration hopes higher output would both weaken the narcoterror pipeline long linked to the regime and help reduce the migration pressure that has pushed millions to flee Venezuela in recent years.
Source:
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/donald-trump-message-venezuela/2026/01/06/id/1240945/