Trump officials in Venezuela boost US drilling and mining

Published May 1, 2026 10:35am ET



The Trump administration has facilitated the entry of three oil companies from the United States to Venezuela for the first time, as the White House aims to expand U.S. drilling and mining operations in the South American country.

The White House confirmed to the Washington Examiner that, on Thursday, officials with President Donald Trump’s National Energy Dominance Council helped Hunt Oil, HKN Energy, and Crossover Energy enter Venezuela. 

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