President Donald Trump began 2026 by shocking the world with Operation Absolute Resolve: a Jan. 3 series of American military strikes upon the oil-rich country of Venezuela, which culminated the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. Despite President Trump declaring that this was an act of “law enforcement,” he has also stated that U.S. oil companies will be going to Venezuela to “fix” the country’s oil infrastructure.
Setting aside the complex legal, ethical and political quandaries involved, this begs the question: How could President Trump’s mission in Venezuela impact gas prices?
