Trump declares national emergency to shield Venezuelan oil cash [View all]

[orangecrush]

Axios

5 hours ago -
Politics & Policy
Trump declares national emergency to shield Venezuelan oil cash

Lauren Floyd

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Man in tie at podium points
President Trump takes questions from reporters during a meeting with oil and gas executives in the East Room of the White House. Photo: Alex Wong/ Getty Images

President Trump declared a national emergency to shield Venezuelan oil revenue held by the U.S. government from seizure by private creditors, framing it as critical to U.S. national security and regional stability.

The big picture: Control of Venezuelan oil — some $2.5 billion worth — is now a cornerstone of the White House's strategy in the Western Hemisphere and an opening for U.S. companies in the wake of Nicolás Maduro's capture.

U.S. oil giants fell short of committing rapid investment in the South American country during a meeting with Trump on Friday, but senior officials earlier told Axios the U.S. plans to manage Venezuelan oil sales and revenue "indefinitely."
State of play: Trump said in the recent order, signed late Friday, that losing control of Venezuelan oil revenue would "materially harm the national security and foreign policy of the United States" by undermining efforts to stabilize Venezuela.

https://www.axios.com/2026/01/10/trump-venezuela-oil-national-emergency