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Chris Wright: “We're not really in Venezuela, except opening up a small…”

Featuring: Chris Wright, Republican | Secretary of Energy | National

Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start'

Published February 12, 2026 | Video Starts at 15:16

But how long will the United States government need to be in Venezuela in the capacity that it is right now? Well, We're not really in Venezuela, except opening up a small embassy. We have far more people in Colombia than we have in Venezuela. But we do want to re establish a diplomatic presence here. (15:16–15:20)

CLAIM

Asserts that the U.S. presence in Venezuela is limited to a small embassy.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Chris Wright

“Eight million people have fled Venezuela.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 01:24-01:28
“It's the first time in history millions of people have migrated away from a low income country into lower income countries.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 01:28-01:37
“The United States is by far and away the largest producer of oil in the world. In fact, we produce today more than Russia and Saudi Arabia…”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 12:56-13:07
“President Biden raised the bounty on [Nicolas Maduro's] head to $25 million. President Trump raised it to $50 million.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 13:25-13:32
“Venezuela has been spiraling downhill for 25 years.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 00:26-00:30
“No American troops here, no taxpayer dollars being spent.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 00:54-00:59
“A lot of the criminal elements were sent intentionally to the United States.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 01:40-01:46
“The largest revenue source for the...government of Venezuela is now controlled by the United States.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 02:40-02:49
“The oil sales, all of that money is returning to Venezuela.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 03:57-04:02
“Hundreds of political prisoners have been released.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 04:35-04:38
“There's a free press again here, as demonstrated by our talk right here in Caracas.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 04:37-04:42
“We have auditors over the money when it comes into Venezuela, to where it goes.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 04:47-04:53
“Delsey Rodriguez...already changing the hydrocarbon law in the country in the first few weeks.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 05:57-06:05
“I made a very simple decision to engage the two largest oil traders in the world who also could move quickly.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 06:46-06:55
“We sold that oil and we returned those funds to Venezuela.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 08:06-08:10
“We're rolling back sanctions in specific areas. But that, that's happening as we speak today.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 09:28-09:33
“An account was set up in Qatar controlled by the US Government the whole time to land that money in and then send the money from there down…”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 10:36-10:46
“Yes, they will. They will not be rebuilding the energy infrastructure in Venezuela.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 11:12-11:17
“Sales today are over $1 billion. And in fact, we have sort of short term agreements over the next few months that will bring in another $5…”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 12:11-12:20
“We removed a criminal, a destructive criminal for the United States of America.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 14:10-14:16
“We want them actually to sell more oil because that drives down prices for Americans in the world.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 14:26-14:31
“We're using oil as the biggest export of Venezuela, as a way to control and steer Venezuela into a positive direction.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 14:34-14:43
“We will continue to control the sale of their oils and the flow of their funds until a representative government is stood up in Venezuela.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 15:26-15:36
“Yes, I think that's quite likely the outcome [that there could be elections in Venezuela before the end of the second Trump administration].”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 16:09-16:14
“By the time this administration leaves, oil production will be up 50 to 100%.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 16:13-16:18
“Natural gas production will probably be at least doubled.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 16:18-16:22
“Venezuelans will get electricity not just a few hours a day, but most hours of the day.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 16:21-16:27
“You'll see millions of Venezuelans returning to this country.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 16:28-16:32
“Chevron is in the midst of large expansion plans down here.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 17:03-17:07
“The security situation in Venezuela today is just dramatically different from what it was two months ago.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 17:43-17:50
“Darren and Exxon are invest[ing]. They're in engagement, they're in discussions with the Venezuelan government.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 18:38-18:44
“Lots of American companies and other international companies will be investing in Venezuela this year.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 19:20-19:26
“President Trump wants to drive peace and prosperity and he's willing to take a risk to do it.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 19:41-19:47
“Venezuela had a long history of democratic elections, representative government, alliance with the United States.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 20:47-20:54
“In a society that hasn't had a free and fair election in quite some time. It held elections but they weren't free and they weren't fair.”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 21:08-21:16
“It probably takes nine to 10 months to get [to elections in Venezuela].”
Full Interview: Energy Sec. Wright says cooperation with Venezuela 'off to a tremendous start' | Uploaded February 12, 2026 | 22:10-22:13