Why big oil giants may not rush to buy into Donald Trump’s Venezuelan vision

<p>It may well be safer, easier and cheaper for US companies to procure whatever oil the US economy needs at home</p><p>There are a few reasons that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump">Donald Trump</a> – now self-anointed <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115879509461234235">acting President of Venezuela</a>, as well as the United States – might be so excited about appropriating Venezuela’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/oil">oil</a>.</p><p>Trump may be counting on some boost from cheap oil to the US economy: he is <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2026/01/big-wins-for-american-families-as-gas-prices-mortgage-rates-plummet/">obsessed with the price of gas</a>. As the midterm elections approach, he has become <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/23/economy/trump-unemployment-rate-economy">concerned about unemployment</a>. Deeply imprinted memories of scarcity during the oil crises of the 1970s may prime his belief that cheap oil cures it all.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/15/trump-big-oil-venezuela">Continue reading...</a>