Trump says he has secured a vast U.S. stake in Venezuelan oil industry

Trump says he has secured a vast U.S. stake in Venezuelan oil industry - The Washington Post

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Trump says he has secured a vast U.S. stake in Venezuelan oil industry

The plan involves the United States taking more direct control over Venezuelan reserves as crime and steep logistical challenges discourage private investors.

August 28, 2026 at 9:48 p.m. EDT

Yesterday at 9:48 p.m. EDT

10 min

*The Amuay refinery in Los Taques, Venezuela, in January. (Matias Delacroix/AP)*

By

Evan Halper

,

Karen DeYoung

,

Anthony Faiola

and

Samantha Schmidt

President Donald Trump announced Friday night that the United States had secured a long-term stake in a vast share of Venezuela’s oil fields, a potentially costly and legally precarious proposal that aims to nudge reluctant energy companies to drill in the risky region.

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What readers are saying

The comments express strong skepticism and criticism of a potential deal involving the U.S. government taking a stake in Venezuela's oil industry. Many commenters accuse President Trump of pursuing the deal for personal financial gain, labeling it as a form of socialism or... Show more

This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.

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