Fact Check: Did Venezuela name a street after Trump?

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has claimed that people in Venezuela have named a street after him, days after Iranian protestors renamed the street after the president. The remark made during a public interaction quickly drew attention on social media, sparking speculations about the authenticity of the claim. Let us fact-check the claim.

Claim: Venezuelan street named after Donald Trump

During a meeting with the executives of the world’s biggest oil companies on Friday, January 9, Trump claimed that Venezuelans had celebrated the ousting of their leader by renaming a street after him.

“The people of Venezuela are going wild over this. They named a street after Trump. What do you do, you attack a country in the named a street? That has never happened before," he said.

Referring to similar reports from Iran, he said, "I heard that's also taking place in Iran. The protestors named a street. God bless them. I just hope the protestors in Iran are going to be safe. It is a dangerous place right now. And again I tell the Iranian leaders, you better not start shooting, because we will start shooting too."

Fact Check: No credible reports exist about the claim

Although some reports and videos are circulating online showing that protestors have symbolically renamed parts of a street in Tehran 'Trump Street' by placing signs or stickers bearing the name, as part of the ongoing nationwide protest.

The renaming is seen as an appeal for support amid widespread antigovernmental demonstrations.

However, there are no credible reports that any official government or municipal authority or protesters in Venezuela have renamed a street after President Trump.

Donald Trump's meeting with oil giants

During the meeting with leaders from firms such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips, Trump pushed for up to $100 billion in private investment to help revive Venezuela’s struggling oil industry.

Framing it as an opportunity to benefit the US, Venezuela, and global energy markets, Trump said the investment would rebuild infrastructure and expand production.

“You have total safety,” Trump told the executives. “You’re dealing with us directly and not dealing with Venezuela at all. We don’t want you to deal with Venezuela.”

Trump added, “Our giant oil companies will be spending at least $100 billion of their money, not the government’s money. They don’t need government money. But they need government protection."

The meeting comes days after the US forces captured Venezuela’s former president Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a dramatic military operation on January 3.