US President Donald Trump’s BIG Statement After Maduro Capture: ‘Venezuela Oil Industry Under US Control’

The United States government is signalling a larger role in the Venezuela oil industry after an operation that US officials say led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with President Donald Trump declaring that Washington will be "very strongly involved" in the South American country's vital energy resources.

Trump, speaking on Fox News, said major American energy companies are expected to move into the Venezuela oil industry following the operation. Trump stated, "We have the greatest oil companies in the world, the biggest and the best, and we're going to be very much involved in it," underlining plans for extensive participation in future production and access.

Venezuela oil industry, US operation and questions over legality

As details of the cross-border mission emerged, criticism focused on whether Washington had sufficient legal authority for a direct action against a sitting foreign leader. US Vice President JD Vance rejected those concerns, insisting that existing US law already covered Maduro because of long-standing criminal cases filed in American courts.

Vance said Maduro faces multiple United States indictments tied to narco-terrorism, which the administration views as the legal basis for both the operation and any subsequent role in the Venezuela oil industry. Vance told critics that these charges created a clear framework for action, even though Maduro remained in office in Caracas before the mission.

Venezuela oil industry, drug trafficking claims and "stolen oil"

According to Vance, the White House had earlier tried diplomatic signals before authorising force, giving what Vance described as "multiple off ramps" for Maduro to change course. Vance said US officials concluded that narcotics flows from Venezuela, and what Vance called "stolen oil", demanded a firmer response when those warnings failed.

Linking energy policy and crime, Vance wrote on X that "The drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States," directly tying the Venezuela oil industry to alleged illegal activity. Vance added that Maduro was now "the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says", pointing to earlier threats from Trump about consequences.

Venezuela oil industry operation and role of US special forces

Vance also emphasised the role of American special forces units that carried out the mission in Venezuela. Praising those troops, Vance said, "Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation," crediting elite US personnel with executing the action that officials say resulted in Maduro's capture and opened the door to direct oversight of the Venezuela oil industry.

Trump and Vance have both linked the future of the Venezuela oil industry with US security concerns and existing court cases, arguing that the operation enforced indictments while reshaping control over key energy assets. Their statements suggest a long-term American economic presence in Venezuela alongside continuing legal proceedings against Maduro in the United States.