President Donald Trump has taken a bold step to shield Venezuelan oil revenue from legal and financial predators lurking in U.S. courts.

On Friday, January 9, 2026, Trump signed an executive order to prevent the seizure of Venezuelan oil funds held in U.S. Treasury accounts, declaring these assets sovereign property meant for governmental use.

He also met with oil industry executives to push for major investments in Venezuela’s energy sector following the recent capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by U.S. military forces.

Trump’s Order and Oil Industry Talks

Let’s unpack this decisive move that’s got everyone talking.

The executive order, grounded in the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the 1976 National Emergencies Act, argues that any judicial grab of these funds would jeopardize U.S. national security and foreign policy, CNBC reported.

It’s a clear message: these assets are off-limits to private claims and vital for Venezuela’s stability.

Capturing Maduro and Economic Strategy

Just days before this order, U.S. forces apprehended Maduro and Flores in Caracas, both of whom face drug-trafficking charges and have entered not-guilty pleas.

This dramatic capture sets the stage for Trump’s broader strategy to stabilize a nation long plagued by mismanagement.

Supporters contend that protecting these funds while encouraging investment is a pragmatic way to rebuild a shattered economy without letting courtroom vultures pick at the carcass.

Oil Giants Eye Venezuelan Potential

On the same day as the order, Trump sat down with big oil honchos, urging American companies to pour at least $100 billion into Venezuela’s crumbling oil and gas infrastructure.

Chevron, operating there under a special license from the administration, is the lone major U.S. player right now, while ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil, burned by past nationalizations under Hugo Chávez, have arbitration claims pending for billions in lost assets.

ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods didn’t mince words, telling Trump that Venezuela remains “uninvestable” under current conditions.

Balancing Stability and Business Interests

Woods’ blunt assessment rings true for many who see a country rich in resources but paralyzed by poor governance.

Yet Trump’s response, as he put it, shows both nations “are working well together” on rebuilding that very infrastructure, hinting at a partnership that could benefit American firms and Venezuelan citizens alike.

That’s the kind of forward-thinking leadership some say we’ve been missing—tackling economic recovery head-on instead of getting bogged down in endless progressive hand-wringing over every policy detail.

A Path Forward or Risky Gamble?

Still, the road ahead isn’t paved with gold—judicial interference, as the order warns, could derail efforts to ensure political and economic steadiness in Venezuela.

While the White House stayed silent on further comment when pressed by CNBC, the stakes are clear: balancing American business interests with the urgent need to prop up a failing state.

Trump’s latest maneuver might just be the lifeline Venezuela needs—or a calculated risk in a region where stability is often a mirage, but either way, it’s a rejection of the usual bureaucratic dithering in favor of action.