In a moment that blended high-stakes diplomacy with unexpected levity, former President Donald Trump turned a private note from a top official into a public spectacle during a critical meeting about Venezuela's oil industry.
A Meeting on Venezuela's Oil Future
The incident occurred on Friday during a gathering at the White House. Trump and other U.S. officials met with executives from major oil companies, including Chevron and Exxon. The purpose was to push for billions in investments to boost oil production in Venezuela. This followed the capture of that country's president, Nicolas Maduro, with Trump declaring the U.S. would "run" Venezuela and become "strongly involved" in its lucrative oil sector.
The Note-Reading Moment
As Trump was speaking, Senator Marco Rubio, seated beside him, discreetly slid a small piece of paper in front of the president. Rather than glancing at it privately, Trump chose to announce the action to the entire room. "Marco just gave me a note," he declared before reading its contents aloud.
The note simply stated: "Go back to Chevron, they want to discuss something." Appearing to take the advice, Trump immediately shifted focus, saying, "Go ahead, I'm going back to Chevron." He then thanked Rubio with a laugh and a pat on the back, lightening the formal atmosphere.
Confusion and Clarification
The public reading caused a brief wave of confusion among attendees. An unidentified voice was heard asking, "Is there a question, Mr. President?" Trump then deferred directly to Rubio, waving the note and asking, "Yes. Go ahead. Marco, what are you saying here?" This interaction highlighted the informal and unpredictable nature of the meeting's dynamics.
In another candid moment during the discussions, Trump reportedly paused to take an impromptu break, staring out the window at the ongoing construction of the White House ballroom. The combination of these episodes painted a picture of a meeting where monumental economic and foreign policy decisions were interspersed with highly personal and unscripted exchanges.
The meeting underscored the Trump administration's direct and unconventional approach to securing energy interests and influencing the political landscape of oil-rich Venezuela, with key allies like Rubio playing a visible advisory role in the process.
