President Donald Trump made it clear this weekend that he’s not interested in playing games when it comes to Venezuela—or with America’s biggest oil companies.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he departed West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said he is “inclined” to keep ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after the company’s top executive expressed skepticism about investing in the country following the removal of former President Nicolas Maduro. In classic Trump fashion, the message was blunt and unmistakable.
“I didn’t like Exxon’s response,” Trump said. “They’re playing too cute.” Subtlety has never been a requirement in Trump’s foreign policy playbook.
The comments followed a Friday meeting between Trump and oil executives, where the president attempted to ease industry concerns by explaining that companies would be dealing directly with the United States, not the Venezuelan government. The idea was simple: stability through American leadership, not backroom dealings with a country long known for chaos and confiscation.
Not everyone was convinced. ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods openly questioned the viability of investing under current conditions, stating that Venezuela is “uninvestable” given its existing commercial frameworks. An ExxonMobil spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment, which, in moments like this, says plenty all on its own.
Also on Friday, Trump signed an executive order aimed at protecting Venezuelan oil revenue from being dragged into judicial proceedings. The order, released Saturday, warns that seizing those funds could “undermine critical U.S. efforts to ensure economic and political stability in Venezuela.” Considering Venezuela’s long history of state asset seizures, U.S. sanctions, and political instability, that concern isn’t exactly hypothetical.
Securing U.S. oil company involvement in rebuilding Venezuela’s infrastructure remains a top priority for the Trump administration following Maduro’s capture. The White House is framing the effort in economic terms, with Trump already seizing tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, announcing that the U.S. is taking over sales of 30 million to 50 million barrels of previously sanctioned crude, and planning to control global sales indefinitely. Not bad for a president critics once claimed had “no plan.”
The message from Trump is clear: America will lead, American interests come first, and corporations that hesitate may find themselves watching from the sidelines. It’s a firm approach, but one rooted in accountability and strength—and that kind of leadership gives the U.S. real leverage to help bring long-term stability to a country that desperately needs it.
