Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated he was 'inclined' to keep ExxonMobil out of future Venezuelan oil investment plans, expressing dissatisfaction with the oil giant's response during a recent White House meeting. Trump criticized ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods, remarking that the company was "playing too cute" after Woods described Venezuela as "uninvestable" in its current state. Woods' assessment stemmed from a high-profile meeting on Friday where Trump urged major U.S. oil executives to commit up to $100 billion to revitalize Venezuela's struggling oil industry following the reported capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces less than a week prior. ExxonMobil's CEO highlighted that for the company to re-enter Venezuela, significant changes would be necessary to the country's commercial frameworks, legal system, and hydrocarbon laws, along with durable investment protections. Woods reminded the administration that ExxonMobil's assets had been seized twice previously in Venezuela, making a third re-entry highly conditional. Despite expressing confidence that the Trump administration could work with a new Venezuelan government to implement these changes, Woods stated that without such reforms, the country remains "uninvestable." Trump, however, indicated his administration would decide which firms would be allowed to operate, suggesting direct dealings with Washington rather than Venezuelan institutions and dismissing past corporate losses as companies' "fault." The incident underscores the complexities of U.S. foreign policy intersecting with corporate investment decisions in politically volatile, resource-rich nations. The original article from the Times of India, published on January 12, 2026, accurately captured these developments, corroborated by numerous other credible news outlets.