Following the Venezuelan strike, Donald Trump on Tuesday said that US will acquire 30-50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela. Trump said the proceeds from the sale would be used “to benefit the people” of both countries. The White House is scheduled to meet executives from US oil companies Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips on Friday to discuss Venezuela, as the Trump administration seeks to expand the country’s vast but struggling oil sector.
In his post on social media platform Truth, Donald Trump said the oil would be sold at its market price and transported directly to the United States.
“I am pleased to announce that the Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of high-quality, sanctioned oil to the United States of America,” Trump wrote.
He added that the oil would be sold commercially and that the money generated would be handled by the US presidency.
“This Oil will be sold at its market price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!” Trump mentioned.
According to an Associated Press report, Trump’s announcement came hours after Venezuelan officials said at least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed during a late-night US military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was taken to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.
The report mentioned that Trump has made it clear his administration will now “run” Venezuela policy and is pressing the country’s leaders to open its vast oil reserves to American energy companies.
In that context, the White House is also organising an Oval Office meeting on Friday with oil executives to discuss Venezuela, with representatives from Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips expected to attend, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Delcy Rodrigues took charge as acting president
After Maduro, the Venezuelan leader was captured and put in the New York Jail, Delcy took charge as an acting president. This did not sit well with Donald Trump. The US president said that Delcy must give ‘full accesses of Venezuela to US or she must face consequences that he described ‘much worse than Maduro’.
President Maduro was captured by US
The US on Saturday after an airstrike on Venezuela’s Carcas captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores faced charges in the United States, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine, and weapons-related offences.
President Donald Trump has said the US is “going to run” Venezuela temporarily and will tap into its oil reserves. Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, has maintained that Venezuela will defend its resources.
‘I’m Innocent,’ Maduro tells court
Appearing before a federal judge in Manhattan, the 63-year-old Maduro said, “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty,” as the charges were read out.
His wife also pleaded not guilty. Smiling as he entered the courtroom, Maduro spoke softly through a Spanish interpreter, wearing an orange shirt and beige trousers.
“I’m president of the Republic of Venezuela and I’m here kidnapped since January 3,” Maduro told the court, claiming he was seized from his home in Caracas.
Trump had also ordered CIA to operate inside Venezuela
In October 2025, Trump gave an authorization to CIA of the US to continue its operations in Venezuela. As per US President Trump, these operations were necessary to limit the flow of illegal immigrants and drug trafficking.
However, on Friday, the Venezuelan government had claimed that it had been negotiating an agreement with the US to combat the drug trafficking problem.
Also Read| Maduro Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ As Trials Begins in Court, Says, ‘I am Still President’
