Trump says oil companies could be 'reimbursed' for Venezuela spending

President Donald Trump said in a new interview that the U.S. could help finance improvements to Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, telling NBC that oil companies could be “reimbursed” for their investments.

The president also said in the Jan. 5 interview that the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela and there won't be a quick election. And he dismissed reporting in the Washington Post that the reason he declined to back opposition leader María Corina Machado to take over the country is that she won thttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/05/donald-trump-venezuela-election-oil-war/88038359007/he Nobel Peace Prize, which he has sought.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/05/donald-trump-venezuela-election-oil-war/88038359007/

The US is already on the hook for a $40 billion loan to Argentina. Now this.

America First!!!

Trump’s domestic supporters gave him their vote, oil and gas companies gave him dollars.

Let me know if that’s not clear enough yet.

12 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Trump’s domestic supporters gave him their vote, oil and gas companies gave him dollars.

Let me know if that’s not clear enough yet.

I always hold hope that the red hats will finally wake up, throw in the towel, and admit this poor excuse for human flesh is a threat to the world.

American oil company's won a judgement against the theft of their refineries and were never paid,

4 minutes ago, Slowhand225 said:

American oil company's won a judgement against the theft of their refineries and were never paid,

So, American taxpayers should be on the hook for that?

Just now, Alan Zweibel said:

So, American taxpayers should be on the hook for that?

Venezuela is on the hook for that but, you knew that already

3 minutes ago, Slowhand225 said:

Venezuela is on the hook for that but, you knew that already

But what has that got to do with the fact that Trump has said that the US could subsidize the oil companies rebuilding in Venezuela?

1 hour ago, Alan Zweibel said:

But what has that got to do with the fact that Trump has said that the US could subsidize the oil companies rebuilding in Venezuela?

Venezuela BAD; Trump GOOD

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

Venezuela BAD; Trump GOOD

It took me a while to get there but now I understand. Thanks!!!

China is owed 150 billion by Venezuela and made it clear, regardless of who is in charge, the debt must be repaid on the terms already agreed. But, yeah, the real message from the aricle is that the US oil companies don't need to spend their own money to rebuild the Venezuela oil infrastructure - oh no, the US taxpayer should do that (socialize the costs) so that the US companies can then reap the windfalls. Now what kind of philosophy would find that non-hypocritical? Oh, wait, it's the same one that bailed out the big US banks using taxpayers money, right??