By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-we-want-it-back-trump-demands-venezuela-return-land-oil-rights-to-u-s Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: ‘We want it back’: Trump demands Venezuela return ‘land, oil rights’ to U.S. Politics Dec 17, 2025 6:05 PM EST Under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan government seized assets from some American oil companies after the country nationalized oil fields in 2007. Watch Trump’s remarks in the video player above. President Donald Trump on Wednesday assailed his White House predecessors for not pushing back against Venezuela earlier and stated that his intention is “getting land, oil rights, whatever we had” returned by the government in Caracas. WATCH: White House says Trump administration plans to ‘seize’ oil from tanker taken off Venezuela coast Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said: “They took it away because we had a president that maybe wasn’t watching. But they’re not going to do that again.” “We want it back,” he added. “They took our oil rights — we had a lot of oil there. As you know they threw our companies out, and we want it back.” A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
Under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan government seized assets from some American oil companies after the country nationalized oil fields in 2007. Watch Trump’s remarks in the video player above. President Donald Trump on Wednesday assailed his White House predecessors for not pushing back against Venezuela earlier and stated that his intention is “getting land, oil rights, whatever we had” returned by the government in Caracas. WATCH: White House says Trump administration plans to ‘seize’ oil from tanker taken off Venezuela coast Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said: “They took it away because we had a president that maybe wasn’t watching. But they’re not going to do that again.” “We want it back,” he added. “They took our oil rights — we had a lot of oil there. As you know they threw our companies out, and we want it back.” A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now