President Donald Trump tells The New York Times that American oversight of Venezuela will last “much longer” than months, as Washington moves to control oil revenues and manage post-Maduro governance.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said the United States could oversee Venezuela and control its oil revenues for years, signaling a prolonged American role following the removal of the country’s longtime leader and a significant expansion of U.S. involvement in the oil-rich nation.
In a wide-ranging, two-hour interview with The New York Times, Trump said it remained unclear exactly how long U.S. oversight would last but made clear it would extend well beyond the short term. Asked whether American control might last three months, six months, or a year, Trump responded: “I would say much longer.”
“Only time will tell,” Trump said, adding that the United States intends to rebuild Venezuela “in a very profitable way.”
Trump’s remarks come after U.S. forces carried out a nighttime operation on Jan. 3 that resulted in the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump said the United States plans to use Venezuela’s vast oil resources both to stabilize global energy markets and to fund the country’s recovery.
“We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil,” Trump said. “We’re getting oil prices down, and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, which they desperately need.”
Trump said the U.S. government is “getting along very well” with the administration of interim president Delcy Rodríguez, a longtime Maduro ally who previously served as vice president. He declined to say whether he had personally spoken with Rodríguez.
“But Marco speaks to her all the time,” Trump said, referring to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “I will tell you that we are in constant communication with her and the administration.”
According to the Times, Trump declined to explain why his administration chose not to transfer power to Venezuela’s opposition, which Washington had previously recognized as the legitimate winner of the country’s 2024 election.
Earlier this week, Trump unveiled a plan to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil that had been stranded under a U.S. blockade. “They’re giving us everything that we feel is necessary,” Trump said, referring to the Venezuelan government.
The interview also touched on U.S. relations with Colombia. Trump appeared to soften his stance toward Colombian President Gustavo Petro, whom he had recently threatened with military action and publicly described as “a sick man.” Trump said he had spoken with Petro by phone and later posted on social media that he appreciated the Colombian leader’s call and tone, adding that he looked forward to meeting him in Washington.
The Times reported that its journalists were allowed to observe the phone call on the condition that its contents remain off the record. Petro later described the conversation, his first with Trump, as cordial. Trump had threatened military action against Colombia just days earlier, accusing Petro of involvement in cocaine trafficking to the United States. The Times said the roughly hourlong call appeared to ease any immediate threat of U.S. military action.
Trump’s decision to use force in Venezuela has unsettled some Republicans, particularly given his past criticism of prolonged U.S. military engagements overseas. The Senate is scheduled to consider a resolution Thursday that would seek to block Trump from taking further military action without congressional authorization.
Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate and have defeated similar measures since U.S. military activity around Venezuela began late last year. However, the most recent vote in November narrowly failed, 49–51, after two Republicans supported the measure. Senator Rand Paul, who is co-sponsoring the latest resolution, said he has spoken with at least two additional Republicans who are now “thinking about it.”
Trump has said repeatedly that the United States intends to “run” Venezuela, though U.S. officials have indicated that Washington’s current plan is to exert control and influence without a formal military occupation.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves but has experienced severe economic collapse in recent decades, with roughly eight million people fleeing the country in one of the largest migration crises in the world. U.S. officials and Venezuela’s opposition have blamed the downturn on corruption, mismanagement and repression under the ruling Socialist Party, while Maduro has attributed the damage to U.S. sanctions.
Several senior U.S. officials said Wednesday that long-term American control of Venezuela’s oil sales and revenues is necessary to restore the country’s oil industry and rebuild its economy.
Trump is scheduled to meet Friday at the White House with executives from major U.S. oil companies to discuss increasing Venezuelan oil production. Representatives from Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron are expected to attend, according to a source familiar with the planning. The companies, all of which have past experience operating in Venezuela, have declined to comment.
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