Oil executives say that the Trump administration did not consult US oil majors regarding Venezuela.

According to four oil executives who are familiar with the situation, the Trump administration didn't consult the oil companies Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips or Chevron about Venezuela either before or after U.S. forces captured Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3.

This contradicts the claim made by President Donald Trump on Sunday aboard Air Force One that he spoke to all U.S. companies about Maduro’s capture "before and afterwards".

Sources said that "nobody in those three companies has ever had a conversation with the White House regarding operating in Venezuela pre-removal, or post-removal" to this point.

Three other sources also stated that the three companies were unaware of the?U.S. As of Sunday, the Trump administration had not held any?conversations about investing in Venezuela.

Due to the sensitive nature of the issue, the sources requested that they not be named.

The White House did not respond immediately to a comment request. Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw, Sheila Dang and Richard Valdmanis. Writing by Chizu Nomiyama.

(source: Reuters)