Impeachment calls grow as Trump drops confession about Venezuela on TV

 

Donald Trump is facing renewed calls for impeachment after openly admitting that he discussed Venezuela with major oil companies following U.S. military action that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, January 4, in remarks broadcast live on C-SPAN, Trump claimed that the United States is now effectively “in charge” of Venezuela after U.S. airstrikes and Maduro’s arrest. What shocked many observers was not just the aggressive rhetoric, but Trump’s casual admission that he had already spoken to oil corporations about moving into the country.

During the exchange, Trump laid out what he described as his plan for Venezuela’s oil industry, saying U.S. companies would be allowed to access Venezuelan oil reserves to recover what he claimed had been “taken.” “We’re going to take our oil back,” he said. When asked directly whether he had spoken to oil companies about entering Venezuela, Trump replied bluntly, “Yes, I have.” Pressed further on which companies, he added, “All of them basically,” according to reports.

Trump went on to say the companies were eager to move in, claiming they would rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure and suggesting the U.S. had originally built it decades ago. His comments immediately triggered outrage online, with critics arguing that he appeared to prioritize corporate interests over constitutional obligations.

Clips of the C-SPAN broadcast quickly spread on X, where many users accused Trump of briefing oil executives while bypassing Congress, which under U.S. law is supposed to be informed about military actions. “Trump briefed oil companies but not Congress. Impeach him immediately,” one post read. Others echoed similar concerns, warning that this looked like government power being used to benefit wealthy donors rather than the public.

Several critics also pointed out the troubling optics of U.S. service members being deployed in a way that appears to align closely with the interests of billionaire-backed oil firms. “This is what an authoritarian system run by oligarchs looks like,” one commenter wrote, while another questioned how enriching oil corporations would help ordinary Americans struggling with healthcare costs and inflation.

Even among those not explicitly calling for impeachment, the reaction was overwhelmingly critical. For many, Trump’s remarks reinforced long standing concerns about transparency, accountability, and the influence of big money on U.S. foreign policy.