Trump says Venezuela ready to 'make a deal', predicts shared oil profits and strong economic rebound
DAVOS, SWITZERLAND: President Donald Trump said Venezuela moved quickly to negotiate with Washington following the US military operation that led to the capture of longtime leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, January 21, Trump said that cooperation with Venezuelan authorities and major oil companies had paved the way for a new energy arrangement.
He portrayed the agreement as a turning point for Venezuela’s economy and credited US pressure for bringing Caracas to the negotiating table. Trump also said that the deal would benefit both countries through oil sales at market prices.
Trump says Venezuela now cooperating with White House
Trump said that Venezuela’s leadership, which he said was largely unchanged after Maduro’s removal, was now working constructively with the White House.
“We appreciate all of the cooperation we’ve been giving. We’ve been giving great cooperation,” Trump said. “Once the attack ended, the attack ended and they said, ‘Let’s make a deal.’”
He said major energy firms were aligned with the administration’s approach. “Every major oil company’s coming in with us. It’s amazing. It’s a beautiful thing to see,” Trump said.
He referenced a January 11 meeting with oil executives, including Exxon Chief Executive Darren Woods, who had described Venezuela as “un-investable” prior to recent developments.
Trump claimed that the oil arrangement would generate a sharp economic rebound, stating, "Venezuela is going to make more money in the next six months than they’ve made in the last 20 years."
He added, “Venezuela is going to do fantastically well.” He said up to 50 million barrels of oil would be involved and described the proceeds as shared, with sales conducted at market price.
He also criticized Venezuela’s past leadership, saying, “Bad with their policies. Twenty years ago, it was a great country, and now it’s got problems, but we’re helping them.”
He also said that the US had used cooperation and pressure to push negotiations forward, arguing that other countries should follow a similar approach. “More people should do that,” Trump said.
According to Venezuelan officials, the country had already received $300 million from a US-brokered crude sale as part of a broader $500 million transaction.
Interim authorities said the funds would be used to stabilize the bolivar and support the foreign exchange market amid ongoing economic strain.
Trump claims the US is an 'economic miracle'
During his Davos address, Trump also highlighted his domestic record, claiming that his policies had produced an “economic miracle” in the United States.
“We have proven them wrong,” he said. “In one year, our agenda has produced a transformation like America has not seen in over 100 years.”
Trump defended his tariff strategy, arguing that it had helped reduce the US trade deficit and driven economic growth, despite concerns that tariffs could raise consumer prices.
He also claimed that federal workers dismissed under his administration were finding higher-paying jobs in the private sector. “They started off hating me when we fired them, and now they love me,” he said.
Pressing European leaders to adopt similar policies, Trump again criticized renewable energy projects, particularly wind power.
“Instead of building ineffective money losing windmills, we’re taking them down and not approving any,” he said, later calling them part of a “green new scam.”
