U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, posted on X shortly after attending a classified Senate briefing on the ongoing situation in Venezuela.
“I just left the Venezuela briefing,” Warren wrote. “It’s worse than you thought. Oil company executives seem to know more about Trump’s secret plan to ‘run’ Venezuela than the American people. We need public Senate hearings NOW.”
The briefing, held on January 7, 2026, followed recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela, including the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro earlier in the month. These developments have centered heavily on Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, with the Trump administration engaging U.S. oil companies in discussions about reviving the country’s petroleum industry and controlling oil sales.
Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has faced years of political and economic instability under Maduro’s leadership, marked by disputed elections, international sanctions, and a severe humanitarian crisis.
Warren has consistently criticized U.S. military interventions abroad, including the recent actions in Venezuela, describing them as unconstitutional and risking broader regional conflicts. She has previously opposed unilateral military moves and advocated for diplomatic approaches, while supporting measures like Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan migrants fleeing the crisis.
