Spoke to oil companies before Venezuela attack but didn't brief lawmakers [View all]

ByMax Zahn
January 7, 2026, 5:48 PM

Oil executives are set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday to discuss investments in Venezuela, a White House official confirmed to ABC News.

Trump previously said he spoke to U.S. oil companies prior to the raid on Venezuela, even as he said he opted to forego disclosure to members of Congress ahead of time due to concerns about possible leaks. The attack resulted in the removal of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said he had held conversations with “all” the oil companies “before and after” the raid.

When asked on Monday by NBC News whether he had briefed the oil companies prior to the operation, Trump said, "No. But we’ve been talking to the concept of, 'what if we did it?'" ...


https://abcnews.go.com/Business/trump-spoke-oil-companies-venezuela-attack-brief-lawmakers/story?id=128942212