Trump’s oil aspirations don’t serve him or us
Hoffman Estates, Ill.: Why did the U.S. invade Venezuela? President Trump has cultivated a chummy relationship with Saudi Arabia. The primary Trump liaison to Saudi Arabia is Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, providing his family with connections to vast oil reserves. He has also catered to oil companies — and their millions in campaign contributions — with a “drill, baby, drill” policy. His prostrating himself in front of Vladimir Putin is now oily and explainable.
Why? In the Risk board game in Trump’s head, he’s acquiring pieces to eventually allow his family to control international oil markets, allowing him to become oil-sheik rich. Ergo the invasion of Venezuela, where the world’s largest known oil reserves lie. However, despite political support from the Trump administration, oil and gas companies need financing for the drilling. If companies don’t have buyer agreements, those loans won’t appear. Oil companies have already withdrawn from bidding on Alaska oil fields and have shown skepticism about long-term returns. Also, Venezuela’s oil is “dirty” because its heavy, sulfur-rich crude is harder to refine and more polluting, leading to severe environmental damage. Some foreign ports even refuse tankers with heavy crude.
Oil is a 20th century energy source, outmoded and responsible for sickening and killing millions of people with the potential to kill millions more. Climate change has already cost billions in property and lives. Oil jobs are being replaced with solar and wind labor. The other major powers, Europe and China, are moving on. So once again, Trump has been shortsighted. His tack to obtain oil control is doomed. He’s playing Risk while the world plays chess. Jim Arneberg
Catastrophic precedent
Manhattan: On Jan. 3, the Trump administration and the U.S. military deposed Nicolás Maduro, who was arrested on drug trafficking charges. Trump said the U.S. would run Venezuela and control its oil. His interest in controlling oil is not new. For years, he criticized the administration of George W. Bush for not keeping Iraq’s oil after Halliburton upgraded the oil refineries there. Suppose the U.S. had seized Iraq’s oil. Would the Iraq War have been different? There probably would’ve been greater outrage in response to imperialism, especially from people pushed out of power after Saddam Hussein’s removal. The backlash could’ve worsened the casualties in the nine-year war. The fatalities were horrible enough, with an estimated 200,000 civilians and 4,800 U.S. servicemen killed. The Trump administration should consider whether the Venezuelan incursion, mainly based on oil, could backfire and spiral out of control. Darryl P. Miller
Pathological
Morristown, N.J.: I believe that every nation on Earth now knows when the president of the United States is lying: His lips move! He is a consummate liar, and I believe he will sell our country down the river to the highest bidder or blackmailer. He and the cowards of Congress should be held accountable in the next election cycle. Please vote. God help us. Pete Begley
Dictator-friendly
Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.: Trump looks like he’s working on Project 2026. Shouldn’t there be a red carpet for Maduro? Also, an upcoming pardon, per Trump’s recent honoring of criminals! John T. O’Connell
Get tough, go green
Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.: Trump kidnapped Venezuela’s president and claimed the country’s oil for giant U.S. oil companies. Oil companies knew in 1977 that burning the stuff was terrible for the health of the planet and us. The last thing we need is more oil, and oil companies don’t want to invest in Venezuela, an unstable country where restoring oil production will take $100 billion and 10 years at least. Gov. Hochul has no sway over this shoot-aim-ready policy, but she has a long way to go to reverse her own backsliding on cheap, clean energy. Reverting to gas gives us higher utility bills to pay for new pipelines when we already have a glut of gas. She’s delaying the Propel transmission line to bring solar power from upstate to the city because there’s not enough solar, slowing solar development for lack of a transmission line. Grow a spine, Gov. Hochul. Laura Burkhardt
Legislating by lies
Los Angeles: Fortunately for the American people, a full video is available for everyone to witness the horrific murder in Minnesota of Renee Good by Trump’s ICE thugs. The fact that the video is available has not stopped Trump or members of his administration from lying about the heinous crime committed against a 37-year-old mother of three. It’s a well-established fact that Trump is the most soulless, amoral, documented serial liar in the history of our great country, and it is truly amazing that somehow Trump has managed to populate his administration with acolytes who are just as shameless in telling lies as he is. It leads one to wonder if you have to fail a lie detector test in order to join the Trump team. Amelia Bissonette
Irrelevant relations
Syosset, L.I.: I note with amusement the tendency of the media to refer to illegal immigrants and other criminals, and to people who use vehicles as weapons and otherwise attack law enforcement, as moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, wives and husbands, as though that makes the illegal behavior OK. For example, last I looked, people like John Gotti and the BTK killer were dads and husbands. So what? I guess the media will do whatever linguistic tricks they need to do to get the language to fit its narrative. Drew Oringer
Scandalous playbook
Kew Gardens: Those of us who were around in 1970 when the National Guard killed four Kent State students saw the murder of Renee Good coming when armed ICE agents were sent into American cities. It was only a matter of time. In 1970, they called the dead students communist infiltrators. In 2026, they call Good a terrorist. Kristi Noem, along with Vice President JD Vance, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pete Hegseth, to name a few, are self-serving opportunists and morons who do whatever Trump tells them. Since Ronald Reagan, this country and its politicians only serve the rich. The two worst organizations in America are the self-serving politicians on both sides and the money-seeking, self-serving right-wing religious conservatives. Be careful, because if you disagree with them, you may get shot and they’ll call you a terrorist, an immigrant, anti-American, etc. Jeff Pullen
Toxic relationships
Middle Village: Why can’t anyone just be nice to each other these days? Robert Chirieleison
We’ll do that
Somerset, N.J.: A Voicer recently predicted that God would burn the world down. I don’t think that will be necessary. The human species is perfectly capable of burning the world down ourselves, and we seem to be getting closer every day. Morris D. Fried
Sit back & relax
Brooklyn: I recommend your readers get a recliner to have a comfortable place to read, relax and watch TV. Walmart, Ashley Furniture and Bob’s Furniture all sell quality recliners for under $300. A recliner is one of the best investments you can make to have a happy life. Shlomo Klein
Closed to the public
Rockaway Park: Congratulations, Mayor Mamdani! I know you have a lot in front of you right now, but with your eye to increased public awareness and general knowledge, would you please have one of your new appointees look into reopening the library in Rockaway Park? Our beautiful seaside library, central to the community, has been closed for more than two years for “HVAC repairs.” Instead of collecting books, it has been collecting cobwebs. All of us know this is a sham and a shame. The programs, literature and PC availability is greatly missed by all age groups. Our many protests garner only more lies and delays. We have few open public places in which to interact here on this peninsula. Please make this a priority. The Rockaway community will thank you! Maureen McNelis
Opportunities abound
Rego Park: It’s great being a Boomer in NYC now. There’s so much to see and do. The High Line, craft workshops (I’m partial to beading), the museums (I could look at Andy Warhol’s soup can all day), and don’t forget to learn a new language. Socializing in NYC can bring its own dividends. As Joe Buck put it in “Midnight Cowboy”: I’m going to New York, where the “tutti-frutti” pay for it. Jeff Rosenblatt
