Donald Trump was seen wearing a unique badge of himself during a meeting with oil industry leaders at the White House last Friday. The US president urged executives to swiftly return to Venezuela to secure $100 billion in investments for the country’s petroleum reserves. Trump emphasized that following the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the US is taking over the sales of previously sanctioned Venezuelan oil, asserting control over global sales indefinitely.
At the meeting, Trump, 79, sported his signature American flag pin alongside a badge featuring a cartoon depiction of himself. When asked about the new pin, Trump referred to it as a ‘Happy Trump,’ acknowledging his perpetual drive for making America great again. He reassured executives of their safety in investing in Venezuela, emphasizing direct dealings with the US instead of Venezuela.
Trump highlighted that major oil companies would invest $100 billion of their own funds, underscoring the need for government protection rather than financial support. The president hosted the oil executives at the White House after US forces seized a fifth tanker associated with Venezuelan oil earlier that day, signaling a firm US commitment to controlling Venezuela’s oil sector.
Prior to the meeting, Trump announced on Truth Social about the gathering with leading oil companies and its focus on Venezuelan oil, emphasizing benefits for American consumers and national security. The White House extended invitations to representatives from 17 companies, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips, seeking significant changes in Venezuela’s commercial and legal frameworks to attract investments.
Executives from Halliburton, Valero, Marathon, Shell, Trafigura, Eni, Repsol, and other domestic and international companies were also invited, reflecting a diverse range of interests from construction to commodity markets.
