Trump shocks, says 'I told oil companies first' before Venezuela strike

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump is under intense scrutiny after revealing he informed oil companies before the US military strike that removed Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One late Sunday, Trump admitted he gave major oil companies a heads-up about the operation while Congress received no notice.

Trump says oil companies were informed ahead of strike

Trump acknowledged that he informed oil companies about the planned strike before it was carried out. He praised them for wanting to “go in” and “do a great job” securing Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, the largest proven reserves in the.

The revelation raised immediate alarm. Congress, including the so-called “Gang of Eight,” was not notified of the operation, despite the usual protocol for sensitive national security matters.

Critics argue the strike effectively amounted to an act of war carried out without congressional approval.

Democrats and critics react with alarm

Democratic congressional candidate Fred Wellman expressed shock at Trump’s comments.

“I cant begin to tell you how insane this is,” Wellman, who hosts the ‘On Democracy’ podcast, wrote on X. “He did not inform Congress, but he’s saying he informed the oil companies. Keep in mind who he means—the billionaire mega-donor that just got control of Citgo. Our service members were used directly to move the interests of Trump’s donors.”

Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) called Trump’s admission evidence of authoritarian governance.

“The oil companies were informed about an act of war before it happened; Congress was not,” Ansari wrote on X. “That, my friends, is what an authoritarian regime run by oligarchs looks like.”

Trump has repeatedly emphasized Venezuela’s oil wealth and suggested American companies would play a central role in its post-Maduro future. After the strike, US oil stocks rose, reflecting investor optimism about access to Venezuela’s energy resources.

Chevron, the only major American oil company still operating in Venezuela, quickly expressed support for the new leadership and said it would cooperate with the Trump administration. The company also hoped for a peaceful transfer of power facilitated by the United States.