President Donald Trump disclosed Sunday that he briefed oil companies about the United States military operation to attack Venezuela and abduct President Nicolás Maduro before it occurred, while Congress was kept in the dark about the sweeping military action that unfolded Saturday.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump confirmed he had spoken with oil companies both before and after the operation that saw U.S. forces bomb Venezuela and seize Maduro on Saturday, January 4. When asked directly if he had tipped off the oil companies about what was going to happen, Trump replied: “Before and after. And they want to go in, and they’re gonna do a great job for the people of Venezuela.”
The admission raises serious questions about the administration’s priorities and decision-making process. Democratic lawmakers now allege that Marco Rubio intentionally misled Congress about the administration’s intentions to launch the strike. Trump’s revelation that private corporations received advance notice while the legislative branch did not represents a stark departure from constitutional norms governing military operations and congressional war powers.
Trump has made clear his vision for Venezuela’s future includes a prominent role for American energy companies. At a press conference Saturday, he announced the United States would “run the country until such time, as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.” He outlined plans for major U.S. oil companies to “go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country.”
Venezuela possesses vast oil reserves, but its petroleum industry has deteriorated significantly over recent decades due to underinvestment, mismanagement, and international sanctions. American oil companies view Venezuela’s reserves as a potentially lucrative opportunity, though rebuilding the country’s oil infrastructure would require massive capital investment and years of work.
The timing of the operation has also sparked suspicions of possible insider trading. A Polymarket account created on December 27, 2025, made approximately $35,000 in bets on a U.S. invasion of Venezuela. The account profited over $400,000 in less than a day after the operation was announced. According to reports, U.S. military officials initially discussed bombing Venezuela on Christmas Day, raising questions about whether someone with advance knowledge of the plans leaked information to the betting market.
Trump’s handling of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has also drawn attention. The president told reporters he had not been in contact with Machado and claimed “she doesn’t have the respect within the country” to lead Venezuela. White House sources indicated Trump became upset after Machado accepted the Nobel Prize rather than declining it in his favor. Machado appeared to be a natural choice to lead Venezuela’s transition given her prominent role in the opposition movement.
The president’s comments aboard Air Force One extended far beyond Venezuela, as he issued a cascade of threats against multiple countries across the Western Hemisphere and beyond. Trump singled out Colombian President Gustavo Petro with particularly harsh rhetoric, calling him “a sick man who makes cocaine” and suggesting military action might be forthcoming. When a reporter asked if there would be a U.S. operation in Colombia, Trump replied: “Sounds good to me.”
The president also threatened Iran, stating the United States would hit the country “very hard” if Iranian security forces kill protesters. His comments came after Senator Lindsey Graham shared a photograph on Monday showing Trump holding a signed hat reading “Make Iran Great Again,” fueling speculation about potential military action against Tehran. The hat, which Graham posted on social media platform X, features an Iranian flag.
Trump indicated that Cuba “is ready to fall” and suggested “something has to be done with Mexico” regarding drug cartels operating in that country. The president characterized the Mexican government as unable to control the cartels and hinted at possible U.S. intervention. He also dismissed concerns about Greenland, saying the United States would “worry about Greenland in 20 days or two months,” while emphasizing that the massive Arctic territory was strategically important for national security.
The president even raised the possibility of a second strike against Venezuela “if they don’t behave,” suggesting the initial military operation might be just the beginning of sustained U.S. involvement in the country. Trump’s threats spanned multiple nations, indicating a broader strategic approach to asserting American power in Latin America and beyond.
The Venezuelan operation represents a significant escalation in U.S. foreign policy, marking the first time in decades that American forces have conducted such a brazen military strike to remove a sitting head of state from power. The action recalls previous instances of U.S. intervention in Latin America during the Cold War era, when Washington frequently backed coups and regime changes throughout the region. However, the scale and directness of this operation—combined with Trump’s explicit statements about running Venezuela and exploiting its oil resources—distinguishes it from more covert historical precedents.
The legal questions surrounding the operation remain unresolved. Trump’s decision to brief oil companies while bypassing congressional notification appears to violate both the spirit and potentially the letter of legal frameworks governing military action.
International reaction to the operation has been swift and overwhelmingly negative, with countries across Latin America condemning what they view as an illegal act of aggression. Colombian President Petro responded to Trump’s threats by calling on Latin American nations to unite against U.S. intervention, warning the region risks being “treated as a servant and slave.” The operation has reignited longstanding concerns about American imperialism in the Western Hemisphere and raised fears that other countries could face similar actions.
The situation continues to develop rapidly, with Trump indicating that decisions about potential U.S. troop deployments in Venezuela would depend on what “the new administration—if you want to call them that” decides to do. The president’s casual dismissal of Venezuela’s sovereignty and his open discussion of exploiting the country’s natural resources have shocked foreign policy experts and allies alike, many of whom warn that the operation sets a dangerous precedent for international relations.