Trump Threatens to Exclude ExxonMobil from Venezuela Oil Deals

Is ExxonMobil playing games with a critical energy opportunity, or exercising prudent caution after two asset seizures?

Published 3 hours ago

Trump Threatens to Exclude ExxonMobil from Venezuela Oil Deals

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Above: Darren Woods (C), during a meeting with oil executives in the White House on Jan. 9, 2026. Image credit: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

ExxonMobil's lukewarm response to Venezuela opportunities shows the company playing games instead of stepping up when America needs energy partners. Plenty of other companies are eager to jump in and help secure Venezuelan oil resources. ExxonMobil deserves to be left out for acting too cute about this critical opportunity.

Clash Report on X

Anti-Trump narrative

Venezuela has seized ExxonMobil's assets twice since the 1940s, making a third entry without major legal reforms completely reckless. The country's current legal framework offers zero investment protections and remains fundamentally uninvestable. Demanding durable protections and changes to hydrocarbon law before risking billions isn't cute — it's basic business sense.

ExxonMobil