Why Trump’s Oil Imperialism Might Be a Tough Sell for Actual Oil Companies

S3E21 - Why Trump’s Oil Imperialism Might Be a Tough Sell for Actual Oil Companies

Published: January 6, 2026

Duration: 52:38

Over the weekend, the U.S. military entered Venezuela and captured its president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife. Maduro will now face drug and gun charges in New York, and some members of the Trump administration have described the operation as a law enforcement mission.


President Donald Trump has taken a different tack. He has justified the operation by asserting that America is going to “take over” Venezuela’s oil reserves, even suggesting that oil companies might foot the bill for the broader occupation and rebuilding effort. Trump officials have told oil companies that the U.S. mi...