Former US President Donald Trump reportedly hinted at major upcoming changes to top US oil executives weeks before launching an attack on Venezuela, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The report said that about a month prior to the attack, Trump delivered a vague but intriguing message to a small group of US oil company CEOs, telling them to “get ready.” People familiar with the matter told the WSJ that Trump did not provide any specific details during the conversation.
Sources said Trump neither sought the executives’ opinions nor discussed potential investments in Venezuelan oil fields at the time. His public announcement regarding Venezuela’s oil sector came only after the attack had taken place.
According to the WSJ, the cryptic message highlights the central role oil played in Trump’s bold and high-risk decision regarding Venezuela, underscoring how energy interests were closely tied to the broader geopolitical move.