Donald Trump launched military strikes in Venezuela without congressional authorization. At the same time, Trump has stated that major oil companies were informed about planned military action and would profit from the outcome. That combination raises urgent questions about corporate influence, insider access, and abuse of power.

Venezuela holds the largest oil reserves in the world―bigger than Saudi Arabia’s. Trump has openly said the United States will take oil wealth from Venezuela and that American oil companies will move in to rebuild and profit from its oil sector. When military force is tied directly to corporate gain, Congress has a responsibility to investigate.

This concern is heightened by Big Oil’s tax record―receiving special treatment under the Trump-GOP tax law, paying effective federal tax rates far below the statutory 21% corporate tax rate. Exxon paid 10.4%. Chevron paid 6.3%. Marathon paid 10.7%. Phillips 66 paid 7.9%. ConocoPhillips paid just 4.7%. In comparison, the average American household paid about 14.5% in federal income taxes in 2022.

Instead of using those tax savings to lower prices or invest in clean energy, the ten largest energy companies spent roughly $206 billion on stock buybacks over seven years to further enrich their wealthy shareholders. Now those same companies are positioned to profit again if U.S. military action clears the way for access to Venezuela’s oil reserves and infrastructure.

Congress must investigate this as both an unauthorized war and a corporate corruption scandal. Lawmakers must subpoena oil executives, obtain internal communications, and require sworn testimony about any briefings, lobbying, or profit expectations related to Venezuela.

The American people deserve to know what Big Oil knew, when they knew it, and how much they stand to gain.

Tell Congress to subpoena Big Oil executives and force full public accountability for Trump’s illegal war.