Trump says U.S. Venezuela oil stake comes "at no cost to the American Taxpayer"

President Trump announced Friday that a private-business deal has given the United States a controlling interest in over 60 billion barrels of Venezuela’s proven oil reserves, and he said it came without taxpayer expense. A U.S. official said interim President Delcy Rodriguez awarded a 100-year operating concession for fields holding 63 billion barrels to a joint venture of the U.S. government and an unidentified private partner; Washington retains 55 percent through equity and oil-purchase rights. The announcement follows January’s U.S. military operation that ousted Nicolás Maduro and reflects administration efforts to draw oil investment, enlarge American reserves, and lower fuel prices. Some international companies are cautious, recalling past seizures of their Venezuelan assets.