“That money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America.”
The promise
During the first week of January 2026, Trump declared that Venezuelan oil revenues transferred to the United States would be controlled by him as President. He argued that the funds would be used for the benefit of both Venezuela and the United States. Supporters viewed the proposal as a mechanism for preventing corruption and rebuilding Venezuelan institutions. Critics described it as unprecedented and compared it to placing a foreign nation's resources under American control. The statement became one of the most discussed aspects of the Venezuela intervention. Trump repeatedly linked oil management to reconstruction and stability. Legal experts questioned whether such arrangements could survive domestic and international challenges. The proposal also raised concerns among energy companies and foreign governments. Despite controversy, the administration took steps to establish mechanisms related to Venezuelan oil revenue.
