Larson, Ways and Means Democrats Put Big Oil CEOs on Notice for Trump Venezuela “Takeover”

Washington, D.C. - Today, following President Trump’s White House meeting with oil and gas executives, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced that he and other Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee sent letters warning the CEOs of the four largest oil companies about their potential involvement in an unauthorized Trump “takeover” of Venezuela. 

On Friday, President Trump hosted oil and gas executives at the White House to secure their involvement in his “takeover” of Venezuela, following his unauthorized military operation that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. During his address to the nation following the operation, Trump said that the United States would run Venezuela with the support of oil and gas companies. 

“Donald Trump is dragging our nation into another foreign conflict with no clear plan or strategy,” said Larson. “The President has made it clear that his unauthorized operation in Venezuela was about one thing – oil. As Dick Cheney said about Iraq, ‘The oil will pay for it.’ Trump is playing the same game, which we saw on full display in Friday’s White House meeting. Before Big Oil dives headfirst into his Venezuela takeover, they must reckon with the moral and legal consequences of this dirty deal. We cannot become entangled in another forever war that will raise costs for American families, put our troops at risk, and destroy American credibility with our partners on the world stage.” 

Larson and Democrats on the Ways and Means Committees sent letters following the White House meeting to warn oil executives about their potential role in these operations. Larson is also cosponsoring a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to end U.S. Armed Forces involvement in Venezuela. 

“We believe that U.S. commercial engagement with Venezuelan oil resources under these circumstances raises serious concerns. In particular, proceeding in the absence of congressional authorization and without negotiations involving a democratically elected Venezuelan government risks undermining core constitutional principles, exposing U.S. taxpayers to financial risk, and placing U.S. servicemembers in harm’s way without clear legal or policy justification,” the lawmakers wrote. “These concerns warrant careful scrutiny to ensure that federal tax benefits are applied in a manner consistent with longstanding congressional intent and broader U.S. interests. Thank you for your full and fair consideration of this matter.” 

In addition to Rep. Larson, the letters were signed by Reps. Mike Thompson (CA-04), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01), Judy Chu (CA-28), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Don Beyer (VA-08), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Steven Horsford (NV-04), and Tom Suozzi (NY-03).    

Their letter to Shell CEO Wael Sawan is available HERE. 

Their letter to ExxonMobil Executive Chair and CEO Darren W. Woods is available HERE. 

Their letter to ConocoPhillips Chairman and CEO Ryan Lance is available HERE. 

Their letter to Chevron Chairman of the Board Mike Wirth is available HERE.