President Donald Trump disclosed Sunday that major American oil companies were informed in advance of the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of the country’s longtime leader, underscoring the central role energy and infrastructure are expected to play in Washington’s plans for the troubled nation.
The dramatic raid, carried out early Saturday, led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were flown to the United States following a Delta Force operation. In the aftermath, Venezuela formally recognized Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as acting president, setting the stage for a period of transition as the country faces uncertainty over its future leadership.
Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump was asked about what comes next for Venezuela, including whether his administration would move quickly to organize elections that would allow opposition leaders to return to power. The president said the immediate priority would be stabilizing and rebuilding the country, starting with its devastated oil industry.
“We haven’t gotten to that,” Trump said when asked about elections. “Right now, what we want to do is fix up the oil, fix up the country, bring the country back, and then have elections.” He later emphasized that access to Venezuela’s resources would be critical to that effort. “We need total access. We need access to oil and to other things in their country that will allow us to rebuild their country,” Trump said.
The president was then pressed directly on whether American oil companies had been given advance notice of the operation that removed Maduro from power. Trump answered bluntly. “Yeah,” he said, confirming that the companies were informed both before and after the raid.
“Before and after,” Trump explained. “They want to go in and they’re going to do a great job for the people of Venezuela and they’re going to represent us.” The remarks made clear that the administration sees U.S. energy firms as key partners in restoring Venezuela’s crippled infrastructure and reviving its economy after years of mismanagement and decline.
Trump went on to outline what that involvement would look like, stressing that private-sector investment would be essential. “We are going to have to have big investments by the oil companies to bring back the infrastructure,” he said. According to the president, those companies are prepared to move quickly. “The oil companies are ready to go, they are going to build back the infrastructure,” Trump added.
Venezuela possesses some of the largest proven oil reserves in the world, but years of neglect, corruption and sanctions have left its production capacity in disarray. Trump’s comments signal that his administration intends to leverage American expertise and capital to restore output, framing the effort as beneficial not only to Venezuela but also to global energy markets and U.S. strategic interests.
Meanwhile, Maduro’s legal troubles are just beginning. He is scheduled to appear in a federal courtroom in New York at 12 p.m. ET, where he faces multiple charges related to drug trafficking. The case marks a stunning downfall for a leader long accused by the United States of running a narco-state and exploiting Venezuela’s resources for personal and political gain.
As Washington turns its attention to rebuilding Venezuela’s economy, Trump made clear that energy will be at the center of the strategy. By coordinating closely with American oil companies, the administration is signaling that restoring production and infrastructure is seen as the first step toward stabilizing the country and eventually returning it to democratic governance.
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