Monday, January 05, 2026

Trump Says He Tipped Off Oil Companies on Venezuela Attack

Reporters on Air Force One asked the president if he spoke to American oil companies to tip them off before U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro on Saturday. Trump nodded and said he spoke to the companies "before and after" the operation.

Posted by lamplighter at 08:32 PM | 23 COMMENTS | permalink

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Trump makes it clear this is about oil. (After the oil companies helped buy him the election)

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-- The Tennessee Holler (@thetnholler.bsky.social) Jan 3, 2026 at 11:49 AM

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More from the article ...

... Trump signaled Saturday that his desire to take over the Venezuelan oil industry played a role in his decision to greenlight the operation to capture Maduro.

He said American companies would be able to tap into the country's significant oil reserves, telling reporters, "We're going to be taking out a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground." ...



#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-05 01:26 PM

Pres Ttrump informed Big Oil ahead of time, but did not inform Congress?

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-05 01:27 PM

Awww look, the supposed BiThNisSmAnZS is desperately trying to ingratiate himself with a crows that laughs at him behind his back and thinks he's lower than whale s*&^.

In the end, our world will burn because a pathetic, demented old man sought validation from a crowd he never belonged to but desperately wanted to be an elite member of.

#3 | Posted by jpw at 2026-01-05 02:02 PM

But couldn't tell the gang of eight or congress? Couldn't get prior approval because it had to be super secret?
That nonsense about leaking was, as suspected, complete --------.

#4 | Posted by YAV at 2026-01-05 02:10 PM

#@ - exactly.
That orange lying liar gotta lie.

#5 | Posted by YAV at 2026-01-05 02:11 PM

@#1 ... He said American companies would be able to tap into the country's significant oil reserves ...

So, looting Venezuela's natural resources for the benefit of Big Oil?

What might the people of Venezuela think about The US stealing their natural resources?


#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-05 02:14 PM

#4
Why bother going to the gang of eight or Congress?
SCOTUS gave Trump immunity.
Couple that with the his pardon power and an embarrassingly supine congressional GOP and you get ...
What we have: a dictatorship in its early stages.

#7 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-01-05 02:15 PM

Oil Companies Contradict Donald Trump's Remarks on Venezuela Consultation
www.newsweek.com

... Oil giants Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips and Chevron were not consulted about Venezuela before or after the capture of President Nicols Maduro, industry executives told Reuters.

Their accounts contradict President Donald Trump's statement on Sunday that he spoke with all three companies "before and after" the operation about investing in the country.

Four sources told Reuters the firms had no prior knowledge of the U.S. plan and have held no talks with the administration since Maduro's removal.

Later Monday, Bloomberg reported that U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright plans to meet with oil-industry executives this week to discuss reviving Venezuela's energy sector after the capture of Maduro, citing a person familiar with the matter. Wright is scheduled to attend the Goldman Sachs Energy, Clean Tech & Utilities Conference in Miami, where executives from Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips and other firms will be present. ...



#8 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-05 03:00 PM

Trump thinks the oil companies are his friends, and he's doing them a favor.

Remember when Republicans told us the Iraq War would pay for itself, because we were going to get Iraq's oil?
I bet some Republicans here still believe that happened.

#9 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-05 04:41 PM

What might the people of Venezuela think about The US stealing their natural resources?

Define "stealing"? Before the nationalization of the production, the US was paying a pretty penny for the oil, and Venezuela was rich.

Then along came the real socialists thinking they could do it all, eventually collapsing revenue to nothing requiring China and Russia to help.

So who do you want "stealing" the oil? Russia? China? Or US?

#10 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-01-05 06:55 PM


... Oil giants Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips and Chevron were not consulted about Venezuela before or after the capture of President Nicols Maduro, industry executives told Reuters.

Perhaps it might be better to ask "not consulted" about what?

I am sure there were interactions and discussions, about the viability of rebuilding their oil production, as the current potentiality (as we are learning from FT) was discussed under the Biden administration as they looked for way to oust Maduro with Rodriquez in charge, but the talks collapsed.

#11 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-01-05 06:58 PM

So, looting Venezuela's natural resources for the benefit of Big Oil?

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-05 02:14 PM

And if it turns out to be too costly, Trump has promised the oil companies that he'll help cover their expenses using taxpayer dollars...

OCU

#12 | Posted by OCUser at 2026-01-05 09:07 PM

LAMP

"So, looting Venezuela's natural resources for the benefit of Big Oil?

I'd think that Big Oil would look with a jaundice eye at any plan concocted by Donald Trump.

He's not the best in the business when it comes to long term planning ~ and things could go awry in a flash ~ including the General Election in 2028 and everything in between.

Knowing Trump, anything that can go wrong WILL go wrong and in order of their importance.

My guess is that Big Oil is going to look long and hard before they make any decision. Perhaps even demanding billions of dollars in financial assurances.

Venezuela could very well turn out to be Trump's white elephant.

#13 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-01-06 03:51 AM

LOL, the buffoon.

Will tell oil companies, and trust them with that info, but not his own GOP in Congress?

You know Trump couldn't keep his mouth shut and had to beat his chest to someone before it happened. So him.

Anyway, why would oil companies put the money up first and rely on Trump's word that billions will come flowing in afterwards? I mean, Trump the business man is just soooo successful. LOL

Trump is going to want that oil so bad - this is going to be a mess. The only question I have is - how will Trump and his family profit? Wait for those details in the coming months.

#14 | Posted by brass30 at 2026-01-06 08:35 AM

Like having the largest aircraft carrier in the world off the Venezuelan coast wouldn't have been noticed by the Venezuelans? Riiiiight!

#15 | Posted by danni at 2026-01-06 08:48 AM

My guess is that Big Oil is going to look long and hard before they make any decision. Perhaps even demanding billions of dollars in financial assurances.

Not perhaps. Without a doubt. And Trump will be desperate and cave to their demands.

They'll also want security/protection because, guess what? This isn't getting done in a a year. Try years or decades to get the oil fields up and running to over 3 million barrels a day.

This has the genuine look of a complete failure and money dump that probably will cost the American tax payers.

Trump would be smart to just claim Maduro as the prize and get out - but he's incapable of that. He wants this in the history books that he reclaimed the oil.

#16 | Posted by brass30 at 2026-01-06 09:11 AM

And this quick reminder ... just a quick one ... he's a filthy pedophile

#17 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2026-01-06 09:20 AM

Does that fat idiot know what planet he's on when he wakes up?

#18 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-01-06 12:27 PM

@#16 ... My guess is that Big Oil is going to look long and hard before they make any decision. Perhaps even demanding billions of dollars in financial assurances.

Not perhaps. Without a doubt. And Trump will be desperate and cave to their demands. ...

Trump says the U.S. government may reimburse oil companies for rebuilding Venezuela's infrastructure
www.nbcnews.com

#19 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-06 01:25 PM

"Trump says the U.S. government may reimburse oil companies"

Now these are the handouts we support!
--Republicans

#20 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-06 02:15 PM

"Trump says the U.S. government may reimburse oil companies"

But there is no money for social security, medicare and health care.

#21 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-01-06 03:21 PM

The war we should be fighting...against human caused global warming.
The war we are fighting...against our own Constitution, led by the clear fascist Trump.
In order to win, our Executive Branch needs to lose.

#22 | Posted by Hughmass at 2026-01-07 07:44 AM

Trumpy is looking and acting like Mussolini more and more every day.

MAGA maroons must be so proud.

#23 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-01-07 11:58 AM

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