Trump ‘inclined’ to defend ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after CEO response at White Home meeting
President Donald Trump says he’s “inclined” to defend ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after its high executive used to be skeptical about oil investment efforts within the country after the toppling of used President Nicolás Maduro
BySEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press and JULIA NIKHINSON Associated Press
January 11, 2026, 7:forty five PM
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — President Donald Trump mentioned Sunday that he’s “inclined” to defend ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after its high executive used to be skeptical about oil investment efforts within the country after the toppling of used President Nicolás Maduro.
“I didn’t appreciate Exxon’s response,” Trump mentioned to reporters on Air Force One as he departed West Palm Beach, Florida. “They’re taking half in too adorable.”
For the duration of a meeting Friday with oil executives, Trump tried to assuage the troubles of the companies and mentioned they shall be dealing right this moment with the U.S., rather then the Venezuelan authorities.
Some, alternatively, weren’t convinced.
“If we peek at the industrial constructs and frameworks in space at the moment time in Venezuela, at the moment time it’s uninvestable,” mentioned Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, the most intelligent U.S. oil firm.
An ExxonMobil spokesperson didn’t right this moment answer Sunday to a request of for comment.
Additionally on Friday, Trump signed an executive stutter that seeks to electrify definite that Venezuelan oil revenue remains shielded from being dilapidated in judicial proceedings.
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The manager stutter, made public on Saturday, says that if the funds were to be seized for such expend, it would possibly well “undermine serious U.S. efforts to electrify definite economic and political stability in Venezuela.” Venezuela has a ancient past of disclose asset seizures, ongoing U.S. sanctions and a long time of political uncertainty.
Getting U.S. oil companies to make investments in Venezuela and support rebuild the country’s infrastructure is a high precedence of the Trump administration after Maduro’s capture.
The White Dwelling is framing the effort to “urge” Venezuela in economic phrases, and Trump has seized tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, has mentioned the U.S. is taking on the sales of 30 million to 50 million barrels of previously sanctioned Venezuelan grievous, and plans to defend watch over sales worldwide indefinitely.
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Kim reported from West Palm Beach, Florida.
